Reviews: Pay it Forward

[JoBlo]

JoBlo's 5/10 review of PAY IT FORWARD can be found here: http://www.joblo.com/payitforward.htm
Your past movie reviews from May 1998 - November 2001 can be found there as well.

And what did you think of the movie? Add your comments below.

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[idealdiscountdude]

Pay It Forward is a very underrated film. Yes it's manipulative, but that's what I liked about it. The acting was great by all three leads, Haley Joel Osment, helen Hunt and Kevin Spacey. I cared about all three charcters, felt for them in emotional scenes and the film's manipulative ending even made me cry.
The film is very well made and does follow the novel of the same name very well. Yes the film forces itself on us but I didn't really care. All I cared about was the characters and I ended up really liking this film.

8/10

[zsofika]

i have a whole bunch of mixed feelings about this film..
definitely not a big art film for me...but the humaness..
maybe even the lack of dazzel....something..about
moments of awakening...gave to me...a compassionate..
viewpoint...was it something i needed to see...i don``t
know....i sometimes just watch acting for acting..film for
film....this is a believable story to me...not the easy...
fairy godmother story...like to see...those..which so
much against them...come up on top....call me an emotional
sap...but i like the underdog...to find...love too....good
attempt...

[Dude]

Very Underrated.... made me cry like a slapped baby... I HATE the film for THAT REASON, but admire it at the same time. Also has a very good fundamental message.. Pay it forward....ie, peace, love kindness, etc... wont make the world perfect, but it can only make it a better place. *sniff...

[Hannibal21]

Manipulative? Yes. But very underrated and moving nontheless. The ending made me break in tears for one whole night and I couldn't get it out of my head. The acting was only OK, Kevin Spacey was great but Helen Hunt and Haley Osment were mediocre at best. But still, that damn ENDING!

[zsofika]

i think what this film evoked...is the spiritual sides..of
the addicted person...whether it be obsessed about
their looks..or occupation...escapisms...buried pain..
it makes us love or atleast consider not only the adorable
ones who invoke worship...envy...or just damn well turn
us on....but the ones in really tough life stories...who
have to muster up...again and again...reasons for living..
beyond....addiction to..substances etc...or infantile be-
havior....which...hello....is the undercurrent of media
propaganda. At my art school...we were given..a pile of
recycled material...and 3 hours to make an object...that
was to be an object we sold...to buy food for the day..
as...millions upon millions ...live...in this world...as a teacher
of art for children...i am often...seeing this form of rejection..
and abuse of parenting...in these most adorable...and
intelligent...future artists..yes and questioning and difficult...finally the realization...as depicted
in many films being made....children..need responsible..
adults...who will be there for them...as being a kid is hard
enough...they need...and should not feel guilty about it...

so i think this is why one would be moved...as strangely enough
the cry of a child...evokes a mature response in a healthy adult.
and the cry of a child...in an adult...well that`s how souls are
discovered among the rubbage heap...of broken hearts...

[James Logan]

PAY IT FORWARD
a Mimi Leder movie

http://images.joblo.com/picpayitforward.jpg

PAY IT FORWARD is kind of a good movie. It's got top-notch acting (Haley Joel Osment, Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt are great, all three of 'em), a good concept, and a fantastic message. It's got some very powerful moments and an extremely moving ending. And it's also got a very, very nice score.

The thing about it is this: a) it's way too predictable, b) it's too melodramatic at moments, c) for a reason I wouldn't be able to develop, it just seems like this is one of those flicks you enjoy seeing one time and that makes you think afterwards, but will just bore the shit out of you and annoy you if you see it a second or third time. Any particular reason? No. Is it a viable criticism? No. But it's just plain how I feel about the flick, and it's my job to see it.

Overall, solid flick with impressive acting by its leads and a beautiful message, it's got its flaws, see it once and remember it.

6.75/10

[Jessica3000]

I just saw this movie...five years afer it's release. But what I can tell from reviews that I've read, not many were that impressed. It kind of dissapoints me because I got so much out of this movie and absolutely loved it. I cannot say enough good things about this movie. I don't know where to even begin. It's been a while since a movie impacted me and touched me like this one has. Not only was the concept and message of the idea of "pay it forward" powerful and moving, but the characters alone were something to behold. I love a solid story with good character developement and enjoy character studies. This movie had such strong characters that spoke to me so deeply and the acting from all three leads just enhanced it further. The acting was phenomenal and I especially enjoyed the character Eugene, played by Spacey. The chemestry and connection between his character and Hunt's was so powerful and it really created a sort of romance and love story that is hard to find in movies these days. Although, as the director even stated in her commentary, the movie wasn't supposed to be entirely focused on these characters, rather, these characters were put there to promote the idea of pay it forward(as the three of them all needed a change in their lives), the characters gave even that much more meaning to the idea of Pay It Forward and really made me emotionally attached to the movie. These two characters played by Spacey and Hunt are so unlike eachother yet share something big in common- they both are scarred by something in their past and are afraid of connecting with eachother. Seeing that process put into play was one of the favorite things about this movie. This film is definately a tear-jerker and, although sad does have a glimpse of hope at the end, for a better future and a better world.

9/10