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From Amazon.co.uk
Director Mimi Leder's third movie, Pay it Forward, finds her moving into softer, more intimate territory after making her name with a pair of high-budget action spectaculars, The Peacemaker and Deep Impact. This is a would-be heart-warming fable about the power of human kindness, but it's handled with such heavy sententiousness as to suggest that she might do better sticking to the big-bang stuff. Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, A.I.), son of a struggling lone parent (Helen Hunt) in Las Vegas, is influenced by inspirational teacher Kevin Spacey to come up with a scheme for social betterment: do acts of benevolence to three people, each of whom then does something good for three more, and so on. Inevitably, the lad's first ventures come to grief, but then the idea starts catching on and spreading, and a reporter in Los Angeles gets wind of it. This Readers Digest-ish scenario, treated with great solemnity by Leder and screenwriter Leslie Dixon, leaves the cast struggling to make something individual out of their pre-cooked roles. As you'd expect given such a line-up of acting talent, several scenes come off better than they deserve, and Spacey in particular does wonders with what is, in effect, two Hollywood clichés rolled into one: not just "offbeat inspirational teacher" but "shy, reclusive burns victim" as well. Interesting, too, to see a Vegas-set movie that shows a low-rent side of the city well away from the glitz and glamour of the Strip. But in the end, all else is drowned out by the clatter of predetermined plot-points being hammered home.
On the DVD: Extras include a commentary from Leder, and a 13-minute "making-of" documentary that includes cast and director interviews. None of it, though, tells us much we couldn't have gathered from the movie. The clean widescreen (1.85:1) print and the Dolby 5.1 sound deliver on quality, and come fully into their own in the all-out bravura finale--shameless tear-jerking on a grand scale. --Philip Kemp
Product Description
School teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey) sets his class an assignment: they must each think up a way to make the world a better place. This prompts eleven-year-old Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment) to develop the idea that instead of paying back good deeds, one should instead pay them forward. Putting his idea into practice, Trevor performs an act of kindness for three different people, requiring each of those three to perform three further kindnesses themselves. In doing so he starts a chain reaction which does indeed make the world a better place.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Many reviews accuse this film of being emotionally manipulative. Which films aren't?.Whilst it skates very close to what might be described as sentimentality its own special qualities save it from falling into the swamp. Chief among these is the quality of the acting of the three leads.
The ending appears to cause some critics particular difficulty and I have noticed that their reaction to it is sometimes quite emotional considering their criticism of the manipulative 'sentimentality' of the film. I wonder whether this indicates a greater emotional impact than they would care to admit? Possibly a genuine grief reaction? I was certainly taken by surprise by the power of my own reaction, which I can only put down to a tremendous screen 'presence' built up throughout the movie.
The ending appears to cause some critics particular difficulty and I have noticed that their reaction to it is sometimes quite emotional considering their criticism of the manipulative 'sentimentality' of the film. I wonder whether this indicates a greater emotional impact than they would care to admit? Possibly a genuine grief reaction? I was certainly taken by surprise by the power of my own reaction, which I can only put down to a tremendous screen 'presence' built up throughout the movie.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Nice story but the stunning performances from Spacey and Hunt have you on the edge of your seat with intrigue (in a nice way). The only thing wrong with the film is the music score which we thought sounded almost exactly the same as Erin Brockovich (i.e. not good). Despite the music, this is one of those rare films that you will happily watch again and again and therefore well worth the DVD investment.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By C. R. Williams
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
This movie expresses how one soul can touch the masses.
This concept is inspirational! It defines belief, faith and the true spirit of human nature.
Watch it and weep!
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4.1 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
dvd = pay it forward
I bought this dvd on recommendation of my friend in nigeria and it wasnt quite what i was expecting, but too explicit for age 12 i felt
Published 2 days ago by karen jean marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars
3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x3x
I enjoyed watching this film as the thought of paying it forward is an amazing concept even if in the film there was a bit of poetic licence. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Pots
5.0 out of 5 stars
chick flick? don't think so
Great film. Used it for a youth group to challenge them to think about their impact on the lives of others. The message definitely gets through with this film. Read more
Published 14 days ago by D. L. Fittro
5.0 out of 5 stars
VERY HAPPY
I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH MY PRODUCT IT MET ALL MY EXPECTATIONS I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY WHEN IT ARRIVED
Published 24 days ago by NETTYJACKO
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pay it forward
Another excellent movie which if the sentiments were carried into the real world would make this earth a better place. Fasinating!!
Published 1 month ago by Nuala
5.0 out of 5 stars
heart wrenching
what a lovely film ,Haley Joel Osment is as always well beyond his years,
Based on a real life story, This is a tale of the insight of a young man and hopefully his longing... Read more
Based on a real life story, This is a tale of the insight of a young man and hopefully his longing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by wheelie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Get the tissues ready!
A thought provoking film. Watch it and it might compel you to do a good deed, however small, for someone else!
Published 2 months ago by SensibleShoe
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pay it Forward
It is such a memorable movie I loved it If only we could all live like this the world would be such a better place
Published 2 months ago by Lee-Anne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Film
pay it forward is a lovely family film this should happen more often what young boy does is brill and would make good present I would recommend to friend
Published 2 months ago by Ms Cs Territt
4.0 out of 5 stars
great film
the ending to this version is different from the original but still good well worth the investment and we will keep watching it
Published 2 months ago by tim
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