By Scott Smith
smith@newsroom.byu.edu
'Pay it Forward' is more than two hours of entertainment; it is inspiration to rise up, forget ourselves and become better people.
On the first day of seventh grade, social studies teacher, Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey) assigns his students to change the world for extra credit. Simonet is the teacher everyone wishes they had.
From the very first word, Simonet grabs his students' interest, and begins to change the way they look at the world. Showing the world expects 'nothing' from seventh grade students, Simonet challenges them to prove this expectation wrong.
Trevor (Haley Joel Osment) takes this assignment seriously, and devises the concept of 'Pay it Forward.' Trevor decides to do three big favors, each one to a different person.
In return, Trevor asks that each person should 'pay it forward' by doing three big favors to three other people. Trevor helps a homeless drug addict, one of his classmates defend himself against school bullies and schemes to bring together his teacher Simonet and his mother (Helen Hunt).
Four months later, a reporter (Jay Mohr) trying to follow a breaking story has his car destroyed by a fleeing criminal. A passerby tosses him the keys to his own car and asks nothing in return, except for Mohr to 'pay it forward.'
This experience starts the reporter on a journey to find the beginning of the 'pay it forward' movement.
Ultimately, he tracks it back to Las Vegas and meets Trevor.
While the concept behind 'Pay it Forward' is truly enlightening, the acting is what steals the show. Watch out Academy, 'Pay it Forward' is riddled with Oscar caliber performances.
Spacey ('American Beauty') brilliantly interprets the role of Eugene Simonet, an extremely intelligent and austere teacher with severe burns. His complex character reveals itself slowly as 'pay it forward' forces him to break out of his comfortable, private life.
Osment successfully escapes his Oscar-nominated performance from 'The Sixth Sense.' Osment proves he is more than just a 'one hit wonder.' His new character is a confident, smart boy who realizes it is possible for a child to make a difference in the world.
Hunt ('As Good As It Gets') brilliantly and realistically portrays a mother overcoming substance and spousal abuse. Through her struggles, she loves and defends her son without reservation.
Only two elements of 'Pay it Forward' detract from the movie.
There is an unbalanced telling of the story. More time is given to developing the relationship between Spacey and Hunt, than to the spreading of 'pay it forward.'
This hurts the concept of 'pay it forward.' Several times throughout the film, 'pay it forward' is called a 'movement,' when only a few favors are actually shown.
The final scene also reeks of cheese. It worked in 'Field of Dreams,' but it does not work here.
'Pay it Forward' overall is a real eye-opener. It shows how much change one seemingly, insignificant person can make.
Audiences will cry, laugh and have their hearts warmed with the mix of emotions in this film. 'Pay It Forward' is a great movie and is worth every penny of the ticket.
Now the question beacons, 'how much can you do?'
3.5 out of 4 stars
Rated PG-13 for substance abuse, sexual situations, language and brief violence.