Touching drama about a 7th grade social studies teacher, Kevin Spacey, who gives a mandatory assignment to go out and change the world when one of his students, Haley Joel Osment, actually takes it seriously. He comes up with this "Pay it Forward" idea where he does a huge favor for somebody. The fortunate person can't pay it back; he/she must pay it forward to three other people which sends it down an ever-lasting web of people. A reporter stumbles upon this web and attempts to backtrack it to its orgin. Helen Hunt plays Osment's drunken mother who falls in love with her son's social studies teacher. Pay it Forward is thought-provoking and does an excellent job considering the unlikely but intriguing plot.
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Starring:
Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osment, Angie Dickinson, James Caviezel, Jay Mohr, Jon Bon Jovi, David Ramsay, Gary Werntz, Shawn Pyfrom.
Directed by:
Mimi Leder
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2000 drama
Rated PG-13
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Don Ignacio's score: A-