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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 131
Released: August 21, 2007 |
| Our Price: $7.28 |
| Used Price: $4.94 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens inherits his grandfather's crash course on life: 12 tasks-or gifts-designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways. The "course" sends Jason on a journey of self-discovery that forces him to reevaluate his priorities and determine what he thinks the most important things in life really are.
Description of The Ultimate Gift:
The Ultimate Gift is a tale of one man's tumultuous journey toward personal growth and fulfillment. Surrounded in life, and death, by avaricious family members fueled by a sense of entitlement, billionaire Red Stevens (James Garner) wants to bequeath at least one member of his extended family "the ultimate gift": something he perceives as immensely more valuable than material wealth. Red's arrogant grandson Jason (Drew Fuller) holds a deep-seated hatred for his newly-deceased grandfather, so he's surprised to learn from his grandfather's friend and lawyer Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs) and assistant Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether) that he's been mentioned in his late grandfather's will. Far from a straightforward gift of cash, land, or stock, Red's bequest comes in the form of a series of mysterious recorded instructions, the first of which requires Jason to hop on a plane for Texas the very next morning without a hint of the trip's purpose or the nature of the gift that awaits him. Dropped into a life of hard physical labor on a ranch in the middle of nowhere, Jason's bad-tempered fury eventually turns to resignation and he finds himself engaged in, and even taking pride in, the first real manual labor he's ever done in his life. Unbeknownst to him, his journey toward claiming the ultimate gift has only just begun. When he returns from Texas, Jason finds his home cleared out, his car confiscated, and instructions to produce one true friend. While Jason is reduced to sleeping in the park, a young child name Emily (Abigail Breslin) and her mother Alexia (Ali Hillis) make his acquaintance and lead him to re-examine his personal prejudices and perceptions of what's truly important in life. Jason's journey of self-discovery continues throughout a series of other trying experiences and, in the end, Grandpa Red's "ultimate gift" of life lessons profoundly and permanently improves the quality of Jason's life. What's more, Jason's new perspective of his place in society has a very positive affect on the larger community. This very powerful film is funny, heartbreaking, and intensely thought-provoking. --Tami Horiuchi
Stills from The Ultimate Gift (click for larger image)
The Ultimate Gift Reviews:
Exceedingly, pleasantly surprised 
2009-12-10 - December 2009. Snowed in - BLIZZARD!!! Thought I'd be stuck watching a sappy, sentimental flick with no plot, lots of tears, and some smiles. Boy, was I surprised. This is one excellent movie! The soundtrack is extremely good, well written and performed (including Sarah Groves). The plot was rich (no pun intended). Will watch this again, and heartily endorse it to friends and family. OK for kids to watch, so long as they are familiar with death (it happens). Miss Breslin is of course her usual amazing actress self. James Garner is exactly what you would expect - an excellent actor giving another great performance. The lead Drew Fuller, is a relative newcomer, and improves as you keep watching. Miss America 1955 (Lee Meriweather) gives a solid performance as does Mr. Garner's assistant - Bill Cobbs(can't wait top see him in something else). Go for it!
The Ultimate Gift
2009-12-09 - This was a great movie for all ages....and a good message for now and in the future.
Feel-good movie
2009-12-05 - This movie is such a great, clean, feel-good movie. It has really good lessons we can all try to remember.
Great Movie 
2009-11-24 - Saw this movie in theatres. Just as awesome watching it at home. Makes a great gift; family film.
The best movie I've ever seen
2009-11-23 - This is the best movie I've ever seen. It's entertaining, funny, and heart-wrenching. But most importantly, I've learned from this movie and it has changed me. If you really take it's message to heart, you will be a better person and start realizing that you can give the ultimate gift to everyone that crosses your path.
Obviously, I highly recommend buying this. You will not regret it.
