SEVEN POUNDS

ENGLISH - (U) - 26 February 2009 - Drama/Romance
Distributor: Sony Pictures
Running time: about 123 minutes
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Producers: Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, James Lassiter, Will Smith, Steve Tisch
Writer: Grant Nieporte
Casts: Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Michael Ealy, Barry Pepper
Plot: Ben Thomas (Will Smith) is an IRS agent who is depressed and guilt-ridden about the mistakes from the past. he then sets out to make amends by helping seven strangers. When he meets Emily (Rosario Dawson), a beautiful woman with a heart condition, he falls in love with her, thereby complicating his plans. Woody Harrelson also appears as a blind pianist who befriends Ben.

THE VERDICT:


Green Tea says:

Will Smith has been making bad movies these days. I begin to wonder why? It all started with I Am Legend and then the disgruntled Hancock. Luckily this new outing by the man himself seems to be much watchable than the other two mega-hits. Will Smith is a reliable actor and he shows it again, where he played the role of an impersonated IRS agent whom tries to save seven strangers to repay the debt of lives he had caused preceding events in the story. He portrayed the character well by creating a strong emotional and endless sentimental of sacrifice and redemption, while also delivering a strong impact on deciding the outcome and where-about of the story. This was the same acts we saw in The Pursuit of Happyness but there was something lacking in this movie.

Rosario Dawson (Alexander, Sin City, Eagle Eye) did what her best to star on an opposite role of Will Smith's. Personally, I think her role as an ailing woman with a failing heart was good. She produced a notable convincing performance to compensate the star power aura from Will Smith which again also connected well through a powerful emotional and sentimental link.

Although the casting was good, however, the bad news were that the story line was poorly crafted and reminiscences a dodgy and illogical plot concerning the predictable, morality and religious challenge. The plot could bot hold itself well as there are times of confusion and misleading continuously to occur. Somehow, the theme of suicide needs a challenge of questions concerning the morality and religious point of view. From any Christian's point of view, committing a suicide itself is mortal sin. The bright side was that, the plot truly challenged our faith and our resistance to believe and to perceive what is right or wrong.

From the aspect of cinematography, this plain-looking and yet simple presentation was further strengthen by the additional feels of emotion and intensity on the plot and dialogue. It was still dry and I would not strongly recommend this movie unless you are a big fan of Will smith and you want to savour some emotional ride from the heart-aching feeling of the actor himself. It worth an average attention, but please be reminded that this is no Pursuit of Happyness.

THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 3.5 stars
STORY - 3.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 3.0 stars
EFFECTS - 3.0 stars
an overall>> 3.0 stars

GreenTea-O-Meter: 12.6