Seven Pounds: Movie Review

Seven Pounds is a heartbreaker. Pure and simple. It is unashamed in the many ways it will tug at your heartstrings and almost demands your tears. If you cry easily, have the tissues at the ready. Ladies, if you have a man that mocks you and ruins a good cry during a movie – and I think we all know that sometimes it just feels good to cry during a movie – then leave him home.

Will Smith plays Ben Thomas, an IRS agent on a mission to improve the lives of seven strangers. He uses his many connections to get information on these people to determine that they are truly in need, but also that they are good people. The latter stipulation is of great importance as he wants to ensure that they’re prepared not to waste the second chance at life he’s willing to provide. This is key to a plot point revealed early in the movie, but kept out of all press for the film, and I will not ruin it here.

Dawson and Smith

Rosario Dawson is Emily Posa, an artist struggling with a congenital heart disease and a possible recipient of Thomas’ goodwill. It’s pretty obvious that they will fall in love which is fine because at its heart – beyond all the hush-hush surrounding the plot – Seven Pounds is a love story. It’s a love story between the two characters, and a love story to lost love, to generosity, to sacrifice, and to life.

I had pretty much guessed the gist of the plot due to the trailers (which will only reveal more now that the movie is out, so if you don’t plan on seeing it for another few weeks I would avoid commercials for it if you can), but even if I hadn’t the movie is quite predictable despite the red herrings bandied about. Even though the plot offers no real surprises, if you’re paying attention, it’s worth your time for Will Smith’s performance alone.

One standout scene, and there are several, involves Smith’s Thomas questioning of an elderly woman in a hospice. He was able to convey compassion, disappointment, sadness, and anger with his face and body language more artfully than someone who also rocks big budget, action hero, summer movies should.

Rosario Dawson, who I’ve always liked, really shines here as well. Emily is ill throughout the whole film and spends almost every frame pale and with sunken eyes, yet Dawson manages to breathe a life into the character that makes it easy for you to understand how Ben Thomas could fall for the fragile, yet strong when she has to be, Emily.

"You know, I used to be hot." - Emily Posa in Seven Pounds

Seven Pounds is one of those films that played its hand early on. You know the ending from the first scene, so the challenge becomes making the audience interested in sticking around to figure out the why when you’ve already revealed the what. It has capable help from supporting performances by Woody Harrelson as a blind man Ben Thomas may help, the sexy Michael Ealy as Thomas’ younger brother, and Barry Pepper as Thomas’ best friend and partner in his plans. Though Seven Pounds unfolds predictably during its several flashbacks, it succeeds, due in large part to Smith’s ability to make you care about what you know is happening to him and those around him.

There are some feel good Forrest Gump type movies coming out for the holidays (Curious Case of Benjamin Button), so it’s understandable if you don’t feel like seeing a tearjerker this time of year, but I’d see it if you can. And if you find yourself having to wait for DVD, that’s fine too. It’s a must see either way.