- Actors: Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment, Helen Hunt, Jay Mohr, Jim Caviezel
- Directors: Mimi Leder
- Writers: Catherine Ryan Hyde, Leslie Dixon
- Producers: Jonathan Treisman, Mary McLaglen, Paddy Carson, Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy
- Classification: 12
- Studio: Warner
- VHS Release Date: 1 Oct 2001
- Run Time: 123 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00005LDEK
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 4,034 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
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
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
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
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!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
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.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good educational tool
Good, speedy service and a great inspirational movie. I used exerpts of this with my form class to get across the concept that even small actions can have an impact on the world.
Published 3 months ago by Claire G
A worthy a idea
great dvd, it arrived next day. if everyone took a note, the world would be a better place, we can all learn from this dvd.
Published 3 months ago by pen
Pay it Forward
One of my favourite films. It's amazing what impact a small effort makes. Real tear jerker too ! I would definately recommend watching. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Rob
Lovely Idea - bit of a damp squab
This is a lovely idea with some good actors - but there was all the chemistry missing for me. I'm glad others enjoyed it more than I did. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Ruth B
Pay it Forward DVD
This is a truly Wonderful Film that everyone should watch...One of my all time favourites...Just Love it and can watch it often!
Published 4 months ago by Songbird
As good as i remember
It had been a long time since i had last seen this film. I remembered it and I wanted to see it again to see if it was as good as i remembered it was. Read more
Published 6 months ago by bumbleblue
Highly recommended!
Very fast delivery and a lovely heart warming story, I would recommend this film to any one, also very cheap.. I expected to pay more!
Published 9 months ago by Chelle85
TOTALLY INSPIRING
I LOVE THE KIND OF MOVIES THAT REALLY TOUCH YOUR HEART. IT SENDS A REALLY BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE OUT. THREE GOOD THINGS TO HELP THREE PEOPLE. GREAT IDEA. Read more
Published 9 months ago by becky1989
such a good film!
If we all used a little of this philosophy the world would be a better place, what a good film, will watch it over with others & the children!
Published 10 months ago by Suula
Pay It Forward
This DVD Pay It Forward, my partner and I watched this years ago, and since we have been reading a lot of mind, body and soul, we remember this DVD and ordered one for us and one... Read more
Published 12 months ago by PAULA
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