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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Warner Home Video
Salesrank: 2304
Released: May 15, 2001 |
| Our Price: $7.68 |
| Used Price: $2.00 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
HOW MUCH IMPACT CAN ONE HEARTFELT IDEA HAVE? A JUNIOR-HIGHSTUDENT'S CLASS PROJECT IDEA IGNITES A CHAIN REACTION OFGOODNESS AND CONSEQUENCES. THE BOY'S IDEA: WHEN SOMEONE DOESYOU A FAVOR, DON'T PAY IT BACK, PAY IT FORWARD.
Description of Pay It Forward:
Pay It Forward is a multi-level marketing scheme of the heart. Beginning as a seventh-grade class assignment to put into action an idea that could change the world, young Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment) comes up with a plan to do good deeds for three people who then by way of payment each must do good turns for three other people. These nine people also must pay it forward and so on, ad infinitum. If successful, the resulting network of do-gooders ought to comprise the entire world. Trevor's attempts to get the ball rolling include befriending a junkie (James Caviezel) and trying to set up his recovering-alcoholic mother (Helen Hunt) with his burn-victim teacher (Kevin Spacey), who posed the assignment.
While this could have turned into unmitigated schmaltz, the acting elevates this film to mitigated schmaltz. By turns powerful and measured, the performances of Spacey, Hunt, and Osment can't make up for the many missteps in a screenplay that sanitizes the look of the lower-middle class and expects us to believe that homeless alcoholics and junkies speak in the elevated manner of grad students. (Can that really be Angie Dickinson as Hunt's dispossessed mother? Yes, it is!) The germ of the story is a good one, though, and one may wonder how it would have been handled by the likes of Frank Capra, who could balance sentiment with humor. But clearly Capra would never have let the ending of his version to take the nosedive into cliché and pathos that director Mimi Leder has allowed in this film. More than a few viewers will also recognize that Leder has blatantly borrowed her final image from Field of Dreams, where its intended effect was more keenly and honestly felt. --Jim Gay
Pay It Forward Reviews:
One of my favorite movies of all time 
2009-12-11 - Hands down, this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Some may call it a "cheezy chick flick" -- but the lesson of the movie has impacted my life and in turn, the lives of others as well.
The acting in this movie by all of the leads is superb. Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment have always been two of my favorites. In my mind, this is their unappreciated best.
Wonderful addition to a spiritual film library
2009-12-08 - We have a large, and well thought out film library at A Home Away. All of our films are recovery or spiritually based. Pay It Forward was a natural addition, and it has been very well received. Our guests come broken and looking for a new way to live. This film is all about broken people looking for love and acceptance in the world in new and healthy ways. The characters are very real. The portrayal of alcoholism and all of its bafflement is very accurate.
This film brings tears to eyes, and hope to hearts. It reinforces one of my favorite sayings, "don't give up 5 minutes before the miracle happens".
I recommend this film for everyone.
Calling All Angels
2009-12-01 - Wow, What a Great Movie - Simple, Heartwarming, Academy Award Winning Cast with an Inspiring (though not preachy) Message of Hope. I truly enjoyed this movie, simple, but sweet. It was Great to See Angie Dickinson back in the spotlight (boy do I miss the Police Woman Days) and I just adore Helen Hunt! This movie may not be a Hollywood Blockbuster with an action packed story and cool special effects; however I would put it on my A List as a movie with Heart and Emotional Impact (I'm buying several for Christmas Gifts). Also Download the Song "Calling all Angels" by Jan Si-berry with K.D. Lang
great movie 
2009-11-12 - very emotional and inspirational movie. this movie could set examples for everybody. watch it. its great
Heartwarming and Gripping
2009-10-28 - This movie is both heartwarming and heartgripping at the same time. I thouroughly enjoyed it and have told so many others about it. I believe this is exactly how God wants us to live life. When we bless others, God blesses us.
