It was a single pound of flesh that Shylock demanded from Antonio in "The Merchant of Venice," fully aware that if his demand was met, it would kill Antonio. But Ben Thomas in "Seven Pounds" is more than willing to part with seven whole pounds of his own flesh and give them to seven complete strangers for nothing. His only condition: that they be nice, worthy people deserving of such a monumental act from a good Samaritan.
But in the end, Shylock, that sly, despicable old man whose name became a metaphor for heartless usury, is actually, to me, preferable to Ben. He's less creepy.
There's no denying that Ben is more datable: He's played by Will Smith, who can safely be described as the most appealing guy in the universe. Even when he's sniffing coke and being obnoxious in a ratty knit cap (see "Hancock"), he can still pull out that sexy smile and stamp it on that dewy, innocent face. Catch him on a good day, such as when he's playing a single dad looking for work with his cute kid in tow (see "The Pursuit of Happyness"), and most women will be ready to do anything for Will.