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A Magical Film.

"Pay It Forward" was absolutely trashed by the critics when it came out. It was labeled as being nothing more than emotionally manipulative Oscar bait. I thought it was an unfair assessment then and I still do today.

The concept driving the story is a simple but amazing one. What would the world be like if we truly tried to better the lives of others? The acting is flawless and I'm not embarrassed to say I was moved to tears by this film.

One criticism of "Pay It Forward" I've seen made time and again over the years is that it is unrealistic. It's as if people are programmed to only accept something fantastic in over-the-top action films or sci-fi. A movie is something that should not only allow you to escape, but maybe even make you feel like being a better person after you see it.

I agree that something like this would probably never happen in the real world. But wouldn't it be wonderful if it did?

Had me until the end (spoilers)

Very rarely am I infuriated by a movies (especially enough to leave a comment). However, Pay it Forward was half decent...until the end that is. I don't know how many have seen the DVD, but I went and listened to the director's comments for the "injury" scene. Why did it happen? Her explanation was that we needed to see random acts of kindness and random acts of violence. Was that really what the movie was about? I really did not take that as theme. If I did not get that, then surely others didn't as well. I think the director dropped the ball here. The movie would have been just as well suited to stop with Hunt/Spacey reconciling or with Mohr's article.

They should take Kevin Spacey's Oscar back!!!!

Apparently some people love to see the same miserable story over and over again. Why must they try so hard to make the audience cry, and in doing so, compromise the story.I thought the movie made Kevin Spacey (whom I love) look absolutely horrible! [watch for one of the worst lines in movie history "I couldn't figure out why that water smelled so bad!"] Helen Hunt managed to play the same role she plays in every movie! The audience actually laughed out loud when Jon Bon Jovi's name appeared on the screen, and his menacing character as an abusive husband is just as laughable as his reputation.Why the heck did Thomas Newman practically use the same score as he did with American Beauty? Can you say 'MARKETING?' At the end, I expected one person to start clapping slowly and then another and then the whole crowd. It is that bad. I've seen half the scenes in other movies.One scene actually is remarkably close to a scene in Oliver Stone's Platoon (believe it or not)!!!In summation... DON'T SEE THIS MOVIE!!! PLEASE!!!2 out of 10 (i'm thinking about changing that to one... the more i think about it, the more i hate the movie.)

Profoundly Inspiring!

The most inspiring and uplifting movie I've ever seen! More than mere entertainment, it's message is life-altering. One person CAN make a difference in the world. Why shouldn't it be you?

Idealistic piffle....but still a good show

This was one of those little heartstring pullers which appear plausible until one enters the human equation and then the whole house of cards falls. The writer would have the viewer believe that one can enter a compound of junkies, thieves, murderers, and assorted trash and leave intact. Welcome to the unreal world. They also would have one buy into the idea that people change over night after taking a sip of the milk of human kindness. A very good film but don't take it too seriously. Loved the ending, it was more in tune with the way things really work.

What a load of rubbish!

Previous comments seem to focus on *the stars*, which is just the problem with this debris! It was a sweet idealistic book that became a star vehicle on screen, spayed of all social value. The book-teacher, Reuben St. Clair, is black; but you still can't have a black man kissing and marrying a white woman. And that's just the most obvious "whitewash". All controversy has been scrubbed from the film; there are no Black (Reuben) or Hispanic (Ricky) characters, not even any Italians (Jerry BUSCONI has no last name on screen, and Charlotte RENALDI has no name at all; she's just the woman on the bridge.) Reuben is a Vietnam vet, going against the stereotype; he's still haunted, but not a broken parasite. The film-Jerry lives down to the stereotype, using drugs and living in a dumpster. There are no gay characters in the film. There are 3 in the book; Lou Tartaglia (Reuben's friend from back east), Gordie and Sandy. The book skinheads become a schoolyard bully; drab, dusty Atascadero becomes glittering Las Vegas. There is no Sidney G. in the film, a vital link in the Movement. And the scene of the vigil outside Arlene's house is utterly unconvincing as the seed of a worldwide movement. Maybe that's the point; the book was Clinton (in fact, he appears as a character), the film is Bush (as well as bush!) It has happened before, with, for instance, "A Clockwork Orange". The book was Kennedy,the film was Nixon; Kubrick simply ignored the last chapter, in which the protagonist simply grows up and stops marauding. Read the book; ignore the film. Too bad some things don't seem to change.

Crocodile tears at best, but worth seeing anyway.

Possible SPOILERWhy did I like this movie? Excellent performances especially from the three principals, good cinematography and well-woven time threads, but mostly for its truly inspiring concept. A boy's plan to change the world doesn't always work, but sometimes it changes a life.There's an on-again, off-again romance - not the main theme at all - and a fairy-tale quality, but it's a tale told with incredible coincidences and Grimm's random darkness. We're given a rancid, bitter end, and a syrupy attempt to sweeten it that brings crocodile tears at best.I do cry at movies but didn't shed a tear at this one. So much for crass manipulation, which only works on some; the rest of us would have left early if we'd but known. Worth seeing anyway.

Return it Back!!!!

Feel good movie? Touching? Heart warming? C'mon people. Get a clue. The characters in this movie are boring and have no emotional content. The story line is predictable and the whole 'pay it foward' concept in unbelievable.

NESARA - Pay it FOward

Great movie. Allthrough the movie is a bit to slow. The plot in this movie is truly fantastic.
Similar to the movie there is actual a working concept in work that are planning to go publich. This concept is NESARA. Its still unofficial but i think its one of the greatest project on earth going on right now. Anyone that find Pay It Forward interesting should check out what NESARA stands for. I really hope NESARA is real.

What is N.E.S.A.R.A.?
NESARA stands for:
National Economic Security and Reformation Act.

Unofficial NESARA News...

Leave the cynicism behind for a night

The acting by the three main characters was superb. The story was fresh and original. Sure, there were a few glitches and a couple predictable lines. But overall this movie moved me like no other has in a long time, the raw emotions of those actors moving me to tears.Cynics shouldn't even bother. For the rest of you, go and see. It's a treasure.

Great Movie with a great plot

I loved Pay it Forward it was a great movie with excellent acting and a feel good story. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is simply this the movie is definitley able to keep my attention for most of the time. But there are a few parts in the movie that just become quite dull and dont really seem to have too big of an importance on the overall effect on the movie. Once again I think it's a good movie but just some parts are a little hard to get through. I think anyone who wants a nice feel good movie with a great meaning and a surprise sad ending should rent or buy this movie.

A film with its heart in the right place

`Pay It Forward' is not a great film, but at least it has a good heart. I have been very critical of the film industry for it's irresponsible attitude towards filmmaking. Films like `Fight Club' and `Pulp Fiction' that glorify anarchy and mayhem send the wrong message to society. Other films like `Scary Movie' and `Road Trip' rely on humor that is so degrading that it lowers the general standard of societal norms by dulling our sense of revulsion at crass behavior. `Pay It Forward' sends a positive message to the masses and despite its unexceptional screenplay, I am gratified to see the effort.The story centers on Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment), a schoolboy who takes quite literally his teacher's challenge to change the world. He decides to do three favors for people and tells them that instead of paying the favor back, that they should pay it forward; they should do three favors for others. The concept is wonderfully idealistic and it is the kind of message we should be sending to society, rather than the hedonistic and nihilistic themes that pervade cinema today.The screenplay itself meanders about without the discipline to stay on point. A good portion of the film is wasted on the romantic relationship developing between Trevor's mother (Helen Hunt) and his teacher (Kevin Spacey), which is a complete non sequitur. From a marketing perspective, I can understand the necessity of giving the audience a good bit of screen time with box office magnets rather than building the story on Osment and the main theme. However, only giving a few examples of how the favors were paid forward dilutes the true impact of that theme. A more effective way to structure the film would have been through a succession of vignettes that travel around the country and perhaps return to Trevor.The ending failed to deliver the message intended. While I surmise that the writer intended that the ending convey the power and impact of goodness and kindness, ironically it sends the message that no good deed goes unpunished, slipping once again into the nihilistic realm of `why bother?'The acting was consistently good. Kevin Spacey is an enormously talented actor and once again creates a compelling and complex character with extensive range. Helen Hunt is really miscast as the middle class mom. She comes across as so bright that it is hard to dumb her down enough to seem normal. Moreover, the romance between the two had all the chemistry of a PTA meeting. Haley Joel Osment is proving himself to be quite a talent after a riveting performance in `The Sixth Sense'. Once again he plays a difficult part with ease.Despite structural flaws, I rated this film a 7/10 on the strength of the message. I would recommend it to anyone who has not given up hope that the world could be better than it is.

A teacher's worthy assignment; students noble charge.

It should come as no surprise to those who have followed the career of Kevin Spacey that Pay It Forward should be yet another wonderful success. Well, that's exactly what it is. From the opening to the closing credits music, this one grabs you and simply won't let go. I'm not going into any details, as I don't won't to spoil a single second of the experience, except to say that this is one of those rare films that can actually change your life. I know it did mine. I intend to use it along with components from The Fifth Discipline in our place of business to shake things up for the better. Do yourself and your loved ones a favor --- maybe even your boss --- and pick up a copy of PIF and find out just what is possible when humankind puts the ol' grey matter to it. Enjoy!

Pay It Forward - Let's try it at least once

I was really impressed by this movie. It's not hard to find people who are really ready to help others, as everybody has some goodness in them.Sometimes we fail to do the right things, sometimes we are hesitant to do the same. Why don't we break that barrier and just try at least once doing it? Yes, it's tough to do something very big to change one's life, but not impossible as said in this film...STOP complaining about the things that are wrong, and START taking some initiatives to change them, correct them, and make this world a better place to live. Let's give it a try, after all it's not a crime...I'm going start and see myself whether it really works. If it does, I'll let you know what happened. I think I will be satisfied even if that works out with one of the three people i'm going to try. I may not achieve big things at the end of it, but I hope I will get some new good friends. After all, you are going to take only their Love, Care and Affection with you when you leave this world.PAY IT FORWARD - at least once

I guess that everyone got the message .

This movie was just plain awful ,but I think that is funny how it try to cover it mediocrity proclaiming every minute " this movie have a deep message ,this movie is sad ,everybody should cry ". Besides being a big waste of talent and money , the movie have a ridiculous and poorly made script full of cheap sentimentalism ,horrible performances and the worst of all , a obscene excess of saccharine that goes to the limit in the forced and manipulative ending . Seriously ,I can't believe that many people consider this " a life lesson for everyone " ."Pay it Forward " it's nothing but exercise of marketing ,just as "The CareBears " but "Pay It forward " got better reviews . After all ,the director Mimi Lederknows very well how to sell a bad movie ,just think in "Deep Impact ".

Everybody knows this is Hollywood

So many people back home calls this a bad movie, they say that the Hollywood system has overdone it in different ways. Critics say that the little boy is too nice, like an angel. He is just not real, and the story to easy.I don't know…..maybe they are right. That Hollywood can't make a down to earth movie, they just don't understand it. Or maybe they should see the good things. The point in the movie is important. I know it's too simple to be true, but it is just a movie, something to give us an impulse…right? So when I say that this movie is not bad, I mean the fact that a simple story is often the best. Kevin Spacey plays this lonesome man perfect, and Helen Hunt makes me see how some people walk the life. The little boy…well, he could have been a more like a kid. There are no such things as angels.Peace

Kevin Spacey & Helen Hunt Make This Movie Very Real.

PAY IT FORWARD is one of those movies that leaves with a sadden but warmed feeling about life and the people around us. It touches the soul of who we SHOULD be and who we REALLY are.

Kevin Spacey shines in this film. He is passionate and emotion and comes to evolve from beginning to end. Helen Hunt is a good alcoholic mother who comes to terms with her son and her own mother played by Angie Dickenson (TV's original Police Woman). Haley Joel Osmen gives a great performance as the instigator of an idea that travels the country in good will.

Simply put this story is about how we each can `save the world' or at least contribute something positive to it. It makes you think and the closing song "Calling All Angels" is fantastic in its sentiment and scenery when the film closes.

There is even a message on the video from Haley himself offering the opportunity to nominate the best people and teachers of the community you know. I love this movie in the theatre and even more watching it at home. 8-20-02

A truly outstanding film

This movie is not only great, but also physically draining. The emotions in this movie reach a point almost unbearable proportions. However, this is what makes the movie great. I have not been touched by a movie to such a great extent, since American Beauty. All three title stars give oscar caliber performances. A definite must see.

Pay It Forward will change your life forever

Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt shine in this terrific movie. It's a movie about life, about the world how it is today, and how you've got to flip around the things you don't like in this world. Too hard, too difficult, impossible, you say. Well, this movie is giving you an idea how you could do it. Because nothing will happen if nobody begins with it. (You'll understand this after you've seen this movie.) And don't believe Leonard Maltin, I'm very disappointed in this critic. This movie was probably too emotional for him. But if you, like me, not afraid for a movie that touches your heart, you've got to see this. So go out, and watch Pay It Forward, and maybe, we can actually change lives. It sure will hange yours.

Phenomenal heart-warming film

This movie has everything a great movie should have. A strong, original plot. Phenomenal acting and great performances. Powerful dramatic scenes with clever dialouge. It's thought provoking and has a strong message to convey. It makes you smile, laugh, cry and then cry again.The very idea of Pay It Forward, is a powerful concept.Most kindnesses in the world are done along the lines of 'I scratch your back, you scratch mine', thus perpetuating a circular cycle of favors among friends and family and the like. Yet, Pay It Forward goes way beyond that. It says: do a favor and expect nothing in return. Do it just for the sake of improving this world. Start it and let it roll like dominoes. And don't just do any favor, help someone with something that they will never be able to help themselves with.Much has been made about the ending of the movie. Obviously, it's shocking and an absolute letdown. But I think, ultimately, that was the way the movie had to end, because that really underscores the very idea of the movie. It shows that the world is still not perfect, that it can be extremely cruel at times, but that's exactly why ideas such as Pay It Forward must continue and flourish. Moreover, to make a real difference in this world, that often requires the ultimate sacrifice.