Review: 'Seven Pounds' Heavy, But Worth Effort

'Seven Pounds' (PG-13)(out of four)

"Seven Pounds" makes sense in a deep philosophical way, but Will Smith's movie is as odd as its name implies. On the surface the film delights in its utter confusion, but when it finally wraps up it is dramatically fulfilling.

Smith is Ben Thomas, a nice-looking fellow with a constantly sad face that makes a drama mask look like Howdy Doody. Something tragic has taken this rising aeronautics engineer from happy-go-lucky husband with a beautiful beach house to a guy so glum that he wakes up every day with the thought of his own demise. As he saunters around in a black suit, white shirt and tie, it's difficult to decipher: is he an angel, The Angel of Death, or just a bummed-out guy on some kind of mission?

The film opens with Thomas making his own 911 suicide call, then it's on to Thomas' mission, whatever it may be. It begins with the sole sad sack sitting in an empty IRS office, pouring over papers, double checking names on a computer: Holly Apelgren, Connie Tepos, George Ristuccia, Nicholas Adams, Ezra Turner and Emily Posa.

We learn later that the only things they share in common are that each has some sort of affliction, whether it is spiritual or medical. It takes a long time for the story to actually unspool to make any sense as to why Thomas would care about a blind piano player (Woody Harrelson) who hawks steaks as a telemarketer, or a printmaker (Rosario Dawson) who has lost her zest for life because of a genetic heart problem.

The beautiful cinematography and the tenderness of the film's direction under Gabriele Muccino adds yet another satisfying element to "Seven Pounds." If Muccino's name sounds familiar, it's because he was behind the lens of the utterly moving tale "The Pursuit of Happyness," which landed an Oscar nomination. While "Pounds" weighs heavier than "Happyness," it does earn an A for its earnestness.

Smith's portrayal of Thomas is compassionate, and with dark circles under her eyes and a breathy tone in her voice, the beautiful Dawson brings a sense of vulnerability to the film. Furthermore, the relationship that develops between the pair is all the more real most likely from the fact that this was only the second time Smith has done a love scene on film; previously it was with Jada Pinkett Smith in "Ali." So the leading up to the pair's first kiss and subsequent love making is all the more heartwarming. Look for Tom Cruise's adopted son, Connor, in a bit part at an aquarium as a young Ben Thomas.

Lest we not give away the plot because the outcome of this film is the pay off for much of its utter confusion, the title most likely comes from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" referring to the giving up of seven pounds of flesh, a payback for an injustice done.

There's much to wade through in "Seven Pounds," with its heavy drama, deep script and slow pacing, but as a genuine tearjerker it's difficult not to feel like you've spent two hours looking into the souls of some people, which almost makes you do some soul searching of your own. One last piece of advice: Bring plenty of tissues.