. must admit well acted and but dark and depressing film portray a wannabe stand up comic . with no clue toward humour . view this film at the stony brook film festival . one of a book end weekend top off another frank whaley vehicle . the pursuit of happiness . frank ( and his brother robert and a his top bos mr. slocum ) and his buddy ethan hawke stand out in this film a hopeless common men . stick in a rut of life problem and of no see any chance of rise above it . frank ( jimmy obrien ) see a call a a stand up comic and but a mix of stage fright and overwhelming domestic problem and put him in a trance and undermine a true escape from his downward spiral life . see it for the acting ( which be top notch ) and but a with early comment and if u need a feel good and less tragic movie see frank whaley in the pursuit of happiness .