Pay It Forward (2000)

Very best movie i ever watch

An Exercise In Nonsense

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Pay it forward is not really a good movie. The characters are unlikeable, the story is really clunky and some of the dialogue is awful. However, there are some inspiring and good scenes in this movie. And the meaning the movie is trying to show is great on paper, but is not really explored well in the movie. The love story in this movie feels very out of place and boring. If the movie had focused all the way on the pay it forward thing, it would have worked much better. 4/10

Have to say that this movie is not one of my favorites, but it also is a movie that is "on the edge" of what pushes jaded "professional reviewers" over that edge.When looking at an overall consensus of "critics" and "viewer" opinions, the actual VIEWERS opinions, those people who watch movies by choice, and not because it's "their job" this movie gets more positive feedback, in fact from what I can see the jaded, "forced to watch it" critics hate this movie.IMDb on the other hand shows ratings based on viewers opinions and it's those opinions lately I go to for a more even handed and realistic view of whether I will like a movie. Even this movie which really is an "over the top" good lord this is just a bit too much to take kind of movie the score is still even handed and fair. Yes it leans past the middle into the positive but quite frankly even if you hate this type of thing it still deserves it.I did enjoy many moments. I did wish the world could be maybe a little bit that maudlin "sometimes" within limits.But overall what it shows me is that IMDb is much closer to showing me scores and reviews that match how I feel about movies compared to almost every other review site. There is some overlap of course, some movies just can't be panned even by the most jaded reviewers.Pay It Forward is a very sappy sugary type of movie but even the worst of us enjoy that type of snack occasionally, even if we would NEVER admit it publicly.

Given an assignment to affect a major change in the world, an impressionable junior high student invents a favours system that sounds good in theory, but can it work in practice? While such a plot summary might make 'Pay It Forward' sound more interesting than it really is, there is no doubting the thought and intelligence of the proposed system: do three big favours for three individuals, who (instead of paying you back) pay a favour forward for three other people. Clever as this may sound, the filmmakers struggle to craft a solid narrative from the idea. While we see the flow-on effects of the system with random strangers doing favours for other strangers in a journalism side-plot, our young protagonist is simply interested in doing favours for those who he knows - which is hardly novel. He has a lonely mother, a sad teacher and a bully target friend, and there is nothing whimsical about his desire to help out these stock characters. By comparison, the best scenes occur in the side-plot as a lawyer gives away his new car and an elderly lady helps a thief evade the law; in fact, the best part comes in the first ten minutes as the reporter suspects a 'Strangers on a Train' trade will pop up before accepting the car. The film is sentimental to boot too with a weak ending that oddly borrows from 'Platoon'. And yet, despite all flaws, the film is engaging while it lasts. Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt do well within the confines of their roles and Thomas Newman's enchanting score is superb. It is just a shame that such an interesting idea could not make for a more satisfying tale.

There are countless words that can be used to describe the 2000 American drama, Pay It Forward. I will say, this film is definitely a drama for a reason. The main storyline is one that is engaging and will tug on your emotions around every turn. However, while watching, it is far too easy to become lost in the midst of the plot. Based on the novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde, the film, although perplexing at times, comes to life thanks to well played roles by a very gifted cast."Pay It Forward" is the name of an idea originated by a young 11-year-old, Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment). It is Trevor's first day of seventh grade and his intimidating social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet (Kevin Spacey), gives his class an abnormal and seemingly impossible yearlong assignment: Think of an idea to change our world, and put it into action. Trevor lives in Los Vegas with his mother, Arlene (Helen Hunt). His mother is a is a relapsing alcoholic trying to hold down two jobs to support her son. His once abusive father (Jon Bon Jovi) is mostly absent from their life with the exception of a few unannounced visits. Although Trevor's world around him appears nothing but negative, he is the only student that takes Mr. Simonet's assignment to heart. The idea he outlines out on the classroom blackboard is simple, yet substantial. He will do a good deed for three people, each of whom will do a good deed for three others, and so on. The only rule is this good deed must be something the recipient cannot do themselves. Throughout the film we follow Trevor as he completes his kind acts. He helps out a homeless man (James Caviezel) to get back on his feet, attempts to fix his mother up with Mr. Simonet hoping she will get sober, and tries to rescue one of his peers who is frequently pestered by bullies.If you are looking for a heart-wrenching drama you have found the right movie. Unfortunately, there are moments when the drama is difficult to follow. The narration of Trevor's life is intertwined with scenes that take place months into the future. These side stories follow individuals that are pulled into the "pay it forward" movement. Each of the story lines are connected, but the way director Mimi Leder pieced them together almost becomes distracting. On the screen it looks unpolished the way the film cuts between scenes. Sure, the story may wander away at times, but the acting by an award winning cast allows the film come to life and walk back to focus with fantastic character development.Despite the young age of Haley Joel Osment, his facial expressions and body language skills are equivalent to a much more experienced actor. In the scenes he acts alongside his on screen mother, he develops so much emotion that it actually looks like he made Helen Hunt cry. He is truly outstanding, simply because he can dive into a scene and make it seem like reality. The talent continues to expand beyond Osment. Academy Award winners Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt create a dynamic on screen that enhances even the dullest of scenes. Emotion is shown not only from their mannerisms, but also the special tone in their voices. It is clear that Spacey and Hunt have some experience. Overall, Pay it Forward is a moving story that will make you smile, laugh and cry. The talented trio of actors shine a light of hope for humanity by telling numerous extraordinary messages. "Can one person really change the world?" After watching, I hope your answer to this question is far less surprising than the final scene of this film.