Review of The Ultimate Gift (2007) by Christine V — 27 Aug 2009

Sorry but the movie was cheesy and unconvincing and most of all, unbelieveable. Two stars because I made it through the whole movie, but that's about it.

It's hard to be convinced that someone can be taught how to suddenly be a virtuous person when he's about to receive 4 billion dollars of his grandfather's estate if he "passes the test.".

I find movies about someone who dies and suddenly decides to prove he was a caring person rather dull. Why didn't he attempt to be that caring grandfather while he was alive?

Anyways, the movie predictably has Drew Fuller, a deadbeat, spoiled brat son who already has everything he wants and really doesn't care about anything, in fact, he didn't even know who's funeral he was at, is suddenly given a challenge from a video-wiil from his grandfather, James Garner.

From there he is proclaiming to will his estate to Drew Fuller's character (a very bad actor by the way) if he passes certain tests by proving he received "gifts"...

From there, he goes on a cheesy scavenger hunt to learn the gift of "work" by plowing holes in the ground for 2 months, the gift of loss (by having his credit cards declined, his house emptied, and his access to money terminated); and various other silly gifts too.

Ali Hillis plays a charming girl who has a brain tumor and is a sort of "old soul" according to the script she was provided. To her credit, I actually liked her character despite the lousy dialogue. Her persona saved that character.

Anyways, the movie reeked of cliche and pretentiousness. The music would suddenly be in a minor key which means you're supposed to cry and things like that. It was all too fake for me.