While in Paris for the premiere of "The Pursuit of Happyness," a French journalist asked Smith why Americans are obsessed with Hollywood's happy endings. It was then, Smith said seriously, that he realized that's the very reason those poor, tired and huddled masses came to this country. "The Hollywood ending is a direct descendant of the American dream. . . . That's why I make movies."I think that's a great answer for why we need those happy endings in our movies. It reminded me of a recent conversation with my sister about the movie Guardian. I had just seen it and highly recommended it to her. She saw it a few days later (isn't Netflix great?!).... but she said she didn't like it as much as I did, in her words, "it was ok." We probed the topic a bit more and she said that the main reason she didn't like it was the ending.... which is sad. A few days later we were discussing the movie once more and she decided she liked it more now, but that she much prefers movies with happy endings.
I agree... as a society we are obsessed with happy endings. And, I think that's ok. It's what keeps us always looking for the silver lining behind all the clouds. And let's be honest, what's wrong with the American Dream?? In so many ways, it's just perfect. Something to always keep striving towards.
Speaking of silver linings, I'm counting on 2007 being the year with the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 2006 was extremely difficult in so many ways.... it's time for a season of good times (although there's plenty of time before we call it a happy ending!).
Here's to Happy Endings and The American Dream!
