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'.
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.
Bangor Daily News (Maine)
October 18, 2007
The film seems manufactured to furrow a cynic's brow before bringing up their lunch.
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.
It is a movie that will not only find but charm -- or should we say con? -- a certain kind of audience.
Filmcritic.com
June 23, 2008
Ironic, isn't it, that a film about human decency takes place in Vegas?
Minneapolis Star Tribune
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.'
