PAY IT FORWARD

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Jay Mohr and James Caviezel

Director: Mimi Leder

Running time: 123mins

Available now to rent or buy on Video and DVD

When new teacher Mr. Simonet (Spacey) gives his class an assignment to create something will change the world, 11 year-old Trevor McKinney (Osment) comes up with a monumental idea. You have to help three people, asking nothing in return but that they help another three people. Instead of paying it back you pay it forward. So Trevor decides to help a homeless man (Caviezel) find a job, his friend Adam get over his bullying and his teacher to fall in love with his mother (Hunt).

February and March are the times of the year when Hollywood brings out its Oscar hopefuls. In this time we will see movies with great casts and top-notch directors all hoping for one of those gold statuettes and this is the first. With two previous Oscar winners in Spacey and Hunt and a nominee in Osment, this is a big hitting cast that is really let down a very over sentimental ending to the movie. Up until the last quarter of the film, the performances and writing are a joy. The characters pull you in and give you something to care about, but then the ending is then forced down your throat with such tenacity that the movie might as well say, if you don't cry you're a hard nut. This for me spoils what could have been a good character driven drama, with a pleasant message behind it.

Director's Audio Commentary, HBO First Look Documentary 'Making Of Pay It Forward' & Theatrical Trailer

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