Review of Pay It Forward (2000) by Jay N — 24 Apr 2013

It's impossible not to get emotionally manipulated by "Pay It Forward" because the film hits nearly every dramatic stereotype and is manufactured in a way that basically forces you to be sad at least for a little bit.

You name it and it's here: suicide, addiction to drugs, alcoholism, parental abandonment, bullying, martyrdom, poverty, running away, spousal abuse and even a tiny sprinkle of sexual abuse too. If any of these subjects hit an emotional nerve, you will get at least partially sucked into the drama of the film, and while it does have good intentions it's so over the top that it feels phoney.

Kevin Spacy, Hellen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment are all good and if the film had been limited to the drama between these three characters it would have been a satisfying story. If you're really in the mood to be emotionally manipulated this will definitely hit the spot which is why so many people remember it fondly, but if you are going in with even the least bit of resistance or you're not ready to cry the movie feels like a bully that keeps hitting you with clichés until you surrender to the melodrama.

With the over-the-top ending it really feels like it's desperate to make you emotional and ultimately it's more laughable than tear-jerking. (Dvd, October 31, 2012).