Wonderful character development!

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

"Pay it Forward" was showing again on TV recently. I knew I had seen it at the cinema when it first came out but, strangely, couldn't remember anything about it at all, except the general premise of paying favours or good deeds forward. So, as I felt a dose of positivism would do me some good, I thought I'd watch it again. It turned out that my mind had good reason for blocking out memory of this film. About an hour and three quarters into it, as it continued to meander ineffectually without really getting anywhere, I was already considering the benefits of tighter editing. And it would also be hard to find more stereotyped characters outside a cartoon. From the funky black jailbird, and the would-be reporter who discovers his breakthrough scoop, through main character Trevor's trailer-trash Mum, her bag-lady mother, all the way to poor bullied Adam. OK, the heartstrings did get tugged, and for four fifths of the film, I was prepared to go along with the tugging, as forgettable as it was.But just when all seems over bar the tears of happy resolution, Trevor intervenes in a bullying incident that has completely unexpected - and what could only be considered completely illogical - consequences. And I doubt that this ending would have been unfathomable only for people who live in a country where bullying incidents in the first year of secondary school are not likely to end up in the morgue. I presume this movie did not do much to encourage international exchange students to attend American high schools! Like so much of this film, this ending was more a case of lazy-minded writing, direction and story-telling. What were they thinking? "Hey man, we just gotta kill the kid, or it just ain't gonna woik!"And then - of all things - to finish off we get a brazen copy of the final scene from "Field of Dreams" (think headlights of cars coming from all directions) to give a kind of cosmic Christ-like significance to Trevor's sacrifice (?). Was this a box-office bribe or desperation? "Yup! If ya kill him, they will come." Maybe. But they'll sure also go away very dissatisfied and welcoming of a complete memory block.

'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.

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

Someone does you a good favor. You pass it on to three other people. They pass it on. And what a wonderful world this will be like the commercial we see on TV these days. That's the theory behind "Pay It Forward,". I would like to say this is a great movie for kids, and parents but parents should be cautious while watching with their kids under 14 years old. This movie has frequent profanity, including one use of the "N" word, as well as a tween boy who calls one of his bullies "a fag." Many of the characters abuse alcohol and drugs, including heroin and marijuana. There are references to severe domestic abuse. There are some fights, one resulting in mortal injury. A character attempts suicide. Another shoots his gun, though no one is injured. A character dies tragically. I personally think this movie deserves more than 7.2 rating. This is a must seen movie for all kids, and parents to raise a better generation.