Hey folks, Harry here... and here's our spy Balki and his look at PAY IT FORWARD... thus far we've had mainly positive reviews of PAY IT FORWARD... and this one... isn't quite that. So at the least.. know that some like this film quite a bit... and others are disappointed.... But the film doesn't hit till late October, so you should know that there is enough time to fix those issues... here ya go....
Harry and crew:
Balki Bartokomous here straight from the land of Mepose. I just visited Cousin Larry in LA. Cousin took me to a screening...sadly it wasn't good enough to make me do the dance of joy.
Pay It Forward:
Let me say this movie has its merits. The concept is original, it focuses and meditates on the theme of violence in our society in powerful ways, and it has a good message. But with a cast like you have assembled here, it could have been a hell of a lot better.
The basic set-up is an assignment Kevin Spacy, who looks like he ran into a runaway DVD of "Backdraft", gives to his class. It is simply: to come up with one way to change the world. Haley Joel Osment, an utter-fucking amazing talent, comes up with a plan. Give a hand, in a life changing way, to a person with the only promise that they will, in turn, pass the humanity mic on to others. Smart Kid, good plan.
He starts by helping a heroin addict played by Zen-master James Cavieziel, who looks atrocious and does a good job with the part. Haley also tries to help Kevin Spacy, a weak buddy from school, and his mom. Through the movie, it looks like none of his actions are working and he thinks the plan's a failure. But that's where the sub-plot comes in.
Jay Mohr plays a morally challenged reporter, receives a "Pay It Forward" in the form of a new sports car in the opening scene. He is so astounded by the act, that makes it his goal to expose the phenomena. This is my favorite part of the movie; I would have liked to see it extended. Mohr is like a modern Sam Spade and the way "Pay it Forward" effects the people he encounters is funny, heart-warming, clever and cool.
So for the negatives: WARNING YOU MAY DROWN IN SAP, BE CAREFUL. The relationships between Spacy-Hunt-Osment are played out with scene after scene of intense, "I want an oscar" acting. The movie was either over cast (if that's possible) or Mimi Leder just over directs. The ending, well...I felt emotionally molested...like someone was trying to pry the tears out of eyes with a pitchfork. It's not a natural emotional experience such as say "Life is Beautiful." "Pay it Forward" is too fabricated and when that violin score gets slapped on...watch out.
SPOILERS: I'm going to expose TWO BIG things because they pissed me off. Warning these are heavy spoilers and I'm not joking:
First, there is a convention that is used in this film much the way Tom Hanks profession was used in "Saving Private Ryan." This is how Kevin Spacy got his burns. His story comes out in a heated exchange with Hunt. when he as a teen, his abusive father tied him up, poured gasoline on him and torched him. Heavy stuff, right? The problem is this is supposed to fit neatly into the plot as a warning for what can happen to Haley. But there is no way, "Slippery When Wet," Bon Jovi comes close to bringing to life, the idea that Haley is in that kind of danger. The theater actually laughs when BON is on screen. Terrible casting...messed with the whole film.
SECOND BIG SPOILER: DELETED TO NOT RUIN THE FILM..... But the main comment from this section is that the downer part of the film does not fit with the tone of the rest of the film.
So while "Pay it Forward" has its merits, it's not near the level a film with this kind of talent should be.
