The first half is really fun, the second half (pretty much as soon as Jon Bernthal enters the film) gets a little more dramatic.
Will Smith makes the film.
He’s not playing the smooth fresh prince, instead this a very nuanced, complex character and you’re not sure how to feel about him until the end.
The cinematography is great (looks a lot like _Straight Outta Compton_) and the performances are all impressive.
But, you can kinda see a better movie lingering in the background, and it’s mostly because the film doesn’t want to commit to challenging the viewer too much.
Is it alright to use your kids as a way to lift your whole family out of poverty?
What should we do to make sure that impoverished kids get the chance to develop a talent they have?
These questions are in the film, and I’d say they’re all very interesting and relevant, but they’re never brought to the foreground.
I also wanted to know a little more on how Selena and Venus look back on their father now.
So it’s very good, despite playing it a little safe in places.

7.5/10