'Pay it Forward' is a solid, well-made drama with some impressive acting performances. It will satisfy a lot of people but I was a little disappointed with the direction the film took. The first half of the film sets up an interesting plot, then the second half focuses almost entirely on the developing romance between Trevor's mother and teacher and the actual story behind the film - a young boy attempting to make the world a better place - almost becomes a sub-plot.The ending also felt like an easy way out for the filmmakers and a cheap attempt at manipulating the audience's emotions. It was a totally unnecessary ending to a film that started with a lot of promise but went downhill fast towards the end. There are certainly worse films out there than 'Pay it Forward', but I was disappointed with the direction this film took. It could have, and should have been a lot better.

It's been a long time since I'd seen "Pay It Forward" and the only thing I really remembered about it was the ending; which explains why I don't like this movie.To its credit, the performances are good, which takes the edge off of such a ham-fisted script. I couldn't believe some of the dialogue, and after a while, you just want to punch these condescending characters right in the mouth. This movie's all about the syrupy message, but it doesn't go about it with rounded characters and decent writing; it works the heart strings, and when there's no subtlety in that, it's just concentrated Oscar bait. Even a major death scene is played for maximum melodrama. I don't want to give away spoilers, but as a character is stabbed, he/she falls to the ground while staring up in shock at the heavens. There's just nothing natural about this."Pay It Forward" makes me think of "Crash" for those very reasons. And even though this isn't as bad, it reeks of shrewd manipulation. Honestly, it'd just be harmless tripe, were it not for that ending. But as it stands, "Field of Dreams" is owed an apology.3/10

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.

Rarely does a movie come along that attempts to become more than entertainment and hopes to inspire a "movement". This is one of those excellent examples of how real, positive changes to our world can come from film if done properly. "Pay It Forward" is exceptional from it's basic, boring inception from a simple middle-school extra-credit assignment until it's awe-inspiring, global-changing ending. If nothing else, it makes you think. And feel. Director Mimi Leder orchestrated a classy, elegant, gritty and realistic journey through the Las Vegas underbelly and beyond. She masterfully tried giving us a message of triumph over the paralyzing reality of feeling insignificant in this sea of unloving, uninterested humanity on earth. Leslie Dixon's screen writing (based on a novel of the same name, written by Catherine Ryan Hyde) replaces fear and hatred with hope and kindness against overwhelming odds in a huge, indifferent world. It's a message for all-time. The acting is excellent - headed by Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and the exquisite Haley Joel Osment. This trio of actors put forth a special story about a sad but still idealistic 7th grader who believes the world can be a better place, even if his own worthless existence is as pathetic as everyone else's. He formulates a simple premise - Do something big and helpful for three people with no benefit to himself - and ask that person to do the same for three additional people, and so on... Getting proper guidance from two flawed but still hopeful adults, he discovers we can all make a positive difference in this world through small but not insignificant random acts of kindness that resonate over and over again. What he doesn't realize is the magnitude of his "discovery". Think "The Butterfly Effect" by acting out sheer kindness and thoughtfulness toward your neighbor when that neighbor needs you most. If this story can't get your heart and head moving toward finding ways to make small, significant, positive changes in your life and those around you, then you may never understand there is more to this world than our micromanaged little, selfish existences.Surrounding the main trio of actors is a splendid array of character actors - Jim Caviezel, Angie Dickinson (in one of her last roles), Jon Bon Jovi, Jay Mohr... Watching downtrodden character after character receive a random act of kindness when it was most unexpected and needed, then passing that good deed onto the next "at wits end" character, all the while never knowing where those good deeds started or are headed in the end, makes this a fantastic idea. When Spacey's teacher character comments how after giving out the same ridiculous assignment to classroom after classroom year after year with little to no results, the "Pay It Forward" idea actually had a chance to change the world... It was an honest assessment of why we're all here together in the first place.This movie mesmerized my family -- my teenage kids had never seen it and my wife and I had forgotten how special it was. We all discussed afterward how we could "Pay It Forward" and where. It doesn't matter who, what, when or how. What matters is the "act now". I'm thankful we watched it as a family. I'm thankful to see the wisdom and urgency in this message. And I hope all who watch will not only enjoy but apply the premise of this fabulous film. 9 out of 10 as a movie, 11 out of 10 for it's message and hope.