So I'm watching Good Morning America this morning and I see this piece on Will and Jayden Smith and their multi-million blockbuster new movie that Will wrote, produced and stars in with his son, "After Earth". The boys are charming and friendly and looking like they a having a great time! Who wouldn't when Hollywood is literally at your feet. For the Smith family it would seem that life is good. I then remember an article I read earlier that was highlighting the movie's "dismal" first weekend at the box office. The article revealed "After Earth" finishing a disappointing third at the box office garnering a mere $27 Million dollars. It seems fair enough to criticize the plot and the story line, even questioning the movie's motive as a vehicle for Scientology, Will's chosen spiritual path. It seems fair that they panned the actors too. Will for his extreme ego and Jayden for his acting chops. After all, actors are open to criticism. Its part of the job. Among other things, the movie has been panned for "extreme nepotism" and likens it to buying your child "an expensive Ducati that he hasn't yet learned to ride". I have not seen the movie, nor will I, unless it comes On Demand very soon and the reason is that Sci-Fi just isn't my favorite genre. So I will reserve judgement on the film. I will say that what I see here is a dad and his son, getting to spend time together "working" under the best of circumstances. Will and Jayden screened the film for some military families, posed for pictures, answered questions and made the film experience a bit more meaningful for these people and they were clearly enjoying every minute of it. (which I get isn't at all that hard) Jayden was asked by an interviewer what it was like to be experiencing this all with his dad? Before he could answer, his dad butted in with a somewhat tongue and cheek, "What's it like for you, a little guy, to be experiencing this with a big, strong presence like a huge Hollywood box office star?" The message to me here was loud and clear: Big Daddy just keeping his little boy in check. The idea of father and son, traveling the globe together, working, sharing and being together, no matter what they are doing, is a great example of the family bond and a great example to all of us of family unity. And if that ain't sexy, I don't know what is.
