Pay It Forward
The film tells the story of a social studies teacher who gives an assignment to his junior high school class to think of an idea to change the world for the better, then put it into action. One of his students, Trevor, plans a charitable program based on the networking of good deeds. He calls his plan 'pay it forward'.
23 May 1962, New Jersey, USA
18 June 1979, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
25 January 1989, Canada
17 May 1986, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
11 July 1952, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
8 October 1973, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
29 June 1964, Santa Barbara, California, USA
17 November 1971, Detroit, Michigan, USA
19 July 1989, California, USA
29 July 1976, Burbank, California, USA
17 November 1986, California, USA
1 October 1957, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
15 April 1987, Los Angeles County, California, USA
8 June 1959, Colombo, Sri Lanka
25 January 1959, Georgia, USA
23 August 1970, Verona, New Jersey, USA
30 September 1931, Kulm, North Dakota, USA
October 14, 2007
There is a clear-cut difference between 'Oscar bait' and 'Oscar worthy,' which Mimi Leder's sentimental crock of a drama illustrates all too well.
December 06, 2005
Despite a ton of good intentions, the picture is numbingly obvious and crushingly sentimental.
January 29, 2005
It is a movie that will not only find but charm -- or should we say con? -- a certain kind of audience.
June 23, 2008
Ironic, isn't it, that a film about human decency takes place in Vegas?
June 04, 2001
Not since Gump has there been such a pandering, faux-virtuous package of populist pap for Hollywood to shove in the faces of electioneering politicos and say: Look, we don't just market unwholesome swill to families, we market wholesome swill, too.
December 27, 2010
A bit syrupy, but sentimental teens may enjoy it.
January 01, 2000
Unceasingly manipulative.
March 22, 2002
Less a worthy achievement than a nice try.
October 18, 2007
The film seems manufactured to furrow a cynic's brow before bringing up their lunch.
June 25, 2001
With its smorgasbord of moralizings, Pay It Forward is a confusing welter of sentiment.
January 01, 2000
If a movie can coax tears out of me, touch me in a way that the tears flow naturally, more power to it. But stealing my tears by beating me over the head with manipulated schmaltz is a cheat.
November 06, 2002
Spacey and Hunt create interestingly layered characters who are hiding parts of themselves from themselves. And come Oscar time, Osment once again may be saying, 'I see tuxedoed people.'
