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Based on a best-selling novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde and boasting the star power of two Oscar winners and a young nominee--Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment--PAY IT FORWARD spins a heartwarming yarn about an 11-year-old boy who comes up with an utopian idea as a project for school. History teacher Eugene Simenot (Spacey) offers the same ongoing extra-credit assignment he has proffered every year: Come up with an idea that will change the world. However, he expects nothing more from his students than halfhearted efforts that fall far shy of their mark. Simenot is therefore unprepared for precocious, irrepressible Trevor McKinney (played with wide-eyed wonder by Osment), who conjures up a stunning scheme. Trevor suggests the concept that every person who benefits from someone else's good deed should "pay it forward," instead of paying it back, and in turn offer favors to three other people. The first guinea pig for Trevor's experiment is his overworked, imperfect mom (Helen Hunt) for whom he tries to find a boyfriend.Director Mimi Leder, best known for such powerful thrillers as DEEP IMPACT, imbues the solid script of PAY IT FORWARD with a more grandiose aura. However, it is the movie's triumvirate of heralded stars--Spacey, Hunt, and Osment--that propels this compelling yarn.
I liked this movie much more the first time I saw it, when my child was very young, and my parental "radar" was still a bit less conscious. But when I bought this copy to share with her, I was very glad I pre-viewed it! There's lots of sexy stuff in it (do I REALLY need my 14 year old daughter seeing pole-dancing in a strip club???) and bedroom scenes with unmarried folks. It just doesn't outweigh the positives, to my mind.
The book is a better story (as books always are), but even THAT has LOTS and I mean - LOTS - of sexual stuff, some of it even nastier and more graphic than the movie, so I'd hold off on sharing this with my kids until at least age 16-18.
I think it's a very sad thing that writers seem to believe that gratuitous sex must be incorporated into everything these days in order to "sell" books and movies. Family-oriented choices for good reading and viewing just keep getting fewer and fewer. This story could have been such an excellent as help parents teach their children about giving of themselves to the world and its positive results, but the icky sex stuff just ruins it.Read full review
A great film that really really inspired me to "Pay it Forward"
This was a great value for a great movie! The character development was awesome! I won't tell you any spoilers but this movie is very interesting. If you want to be inspired to help others in ways they don't expect, this is the movie for you. A Social Studies asks his students to write about this:
What can I do to change the World? What can I do to put it to ACTION?
I really like the point of the movie, instead of paying back a kindness someone has shown you, you....pay it forward. Wouldn't the world be a nicer place if everyone practised this. :o) Helen Humt did an excellent job of playing a single Mom who's an alcoholic, trying to raise a 10 year old boy by herself. It was a down to earth movie, with not such a "happy ending" by any means, but the point is, life isn't always fair, yet even bad things can have good in them, if you just look for them. The only thing I didn't like was it had some strong language, not suitable for children.
Very impressed with the entire transaction and movie!!
This movie was "required" viewing by a very strong team-building consultant. My team consists of 12 managerial employees that work together daily. We had our own "silos" within the same company........our president, a very wise man, hired a consultant to bring us together...........long story short:::: we are the strongest team within the company, work with each other, have each others back, and actually look for the opportunity to help each other out. No such thing as "the hole is in your side of the boat"..........I guess the best way to describe the team building is to say that we went in as workers and coworkers, we are now friends, strong friends and we are having fun!! This movie sets an example for us all to follow, I won't spoil the content but the two hour viewing is superb........my wife and granddaughter are watching it for the sheer enjoyment........I can not say enough good about the movie........now for the transaction!!!, the CD was purchased at an outstanding price, delivered within four days which was completely unexpected, and in like new condition. I could not have been happier with the movie, the transaction but particularly the results.Read full review
If we would take that to heart, to change the world, starts with me. this was an awesome movie, did have soem risque scenes, but that was part of the story. awesome is all I can say! thank yoiu