Seven Pounds (2008)

Directed by: Gabriele Muccino | 118 minutes | drama | Actors: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper, Elpidia Carrillo, Robinne Lee, Joe Nunez, Bill Smitrovich, Tim Kelleher, Gina Hecht, Andy Milder, Judyann Elder, Sarah Jane Morris, Madison Pettis, Ivan Angulo , Octavia Spencer Quintin Kelley, Fiona Hale, Connor Cruise, David Haines

Italian director Gabriele Muccino made a striking Hollywood debut in 2006 with the drama ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’. Based on the life of Christopher Gardner, the film told the story of a failed salesman (Will Smith) who rises to become a successful investment advisor. Although not everyone was charmed by the message – money certainly does bring happiness – the film managed to captivate for the most part. This does not apply to the second collaboration between Muccino and Smith, which was given the enigmatic title ‘Seven Pounds’.

‘Seven Pounds’ tells the story of a traumatized man and his quest for redemption. A weak scenario prevents it from producing exciting costs. The biggest shortcoming is that the viewer is remembered for too long necessary information. Such a strategy works fine in thrillers and other plot-driven films, but in a psychological drama like ‘Seven Pounds’ it makes no sense. Tears flow, emotions rise, but as a viewer you never sympathize, because you have no idea what it’s all about. The moment the story finally reveals its secrets, the film goes into overdrive and one overwrought scene follows another.

Another problem is Will Smith. The actor has to portray a man with Messianic tendencies who is destroyed by anger and sadness under a modest surface. Although Smith is a fine genre actor, a role of this dramatic caliber seems too ambitious. Here he gets no further than three fixed facial expressions (uncomprehending, tormented and a bizarre combination of the two) that never makes his character come to life. Although the role of the extroverted Emily Posa is less demanding, it is painful to see how Smith is occasionally played off the screen by co-star Rosario Dawson.

‘Seven Pounds’ is clearly aimed at an arthouse audience, but the film is too sentimental for that, the metaphors are too easy and the profundities aren’t deep enough. A blind man who says a waitress can’t see him, an evil character who goes by the name Goodman, that kind of quasi-interesting stuff. Perhaps too arty for the popcorn audience, but not interesting enough for the arthouse audience.

Because of all this, ‘Seven Pounds’ comes out a lot less than ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’. A pity, because despite all the flaws, the good intentions drip from the screen. That doesn’t make ‘Seven Pounds’ any less of a failure, but one of the sympathetic and intriguing kind.