Ram Sridhar
There are very few movies that can really move you to tears. This is once such wonderful movie. I never have heard of this movie till recently. It is very moving, teaching the values of life, other than money. One of the gems I watched over all these years. Please see this superb movie with family, especially with your kids.
duff101
I had to watch this movie for a theology class (I go to a Catholic High School,) and this was the third movie I watched this year with a religious theme. I was burned out, but this film regenerated my enjoyment.This movie is not terribly made, it has a substantial budget and perfectly good sets and camera work. The problem with this film is in the acting.Drew Fuller is WOODEN. Some of his deliveries are so terrible, they are hilarious. The child actor in this movie has strange emotional shifts. It's very obvious they filmed all of James Garner's scenes in a day, but he and his lawyer friends are the best acted characters in the movie. In conclusion DO NOT WATCH THIS EXPECTING A GOOD MOVIE. Watch this to be entertained by wooden acting and baffling writing.
kjdunn-21457
Spoiler alert! America today is a world where people want bigger, better, and more. Always more. Although this is not true for everyone, this country is known for its high consumerism and stereotyped for being rude and greedy. Many rich people in the city splurge their wealth on the daily but seem to be the most unhappy. Jason Stevens in The Ultimate Gift, directed by Michael O. Sabjel, lived this lifestyle. All his life, he only reviewed things and never gave. Having no concerns for anyone around him, he was selfish and egotistical and did nothing productive in life. When his grandfather, the one supplying him with all his money, pasts away, and leaves him no inheritance but a set of tasks to do in order to get a gift in the end, he finds himself lost. This movie goes on to reveal that somebody may not have a purpose in life, but it can be found by giving to others. This is why giving gifts, not always tangible or perceptible can hold so much value.Jason starts from the bottom as he is evicted from his apartment, his car is towed, and his credit card is all of a sudden declined everywhere. This is all going in accordance to his grandfathers wishes as part of his test. Jason finds himself working odd jobs, spending a month as a farm-hand, befriending a woman and a sick daughter, traveling to Ecuador to help a village, and escaping hostile militants, and lastly, inheriting $100 million. All these assignments revolve around giving some sort of gift while learning the importance of them. By hard work and struggling to make money on the streets, Jason learned the gift of labor. When Jason met Alexia and her daughter, Rose, he gained the gift of friendship. On his mission trip, he was presented with the gift of problems and bravery. He learned about the gift of responsibility by inheriting the large amount of money. Through all these events, he gained the most important gift, the gift of love. Jason's old life had no purpose, but from gaining these new gifts, he helped others and learned to care.Jason helped Rose live her life and fulfill her dreams before she died from leukemia. By giving her and her mother time, money and help, he discovered what he wanted to do. With the money he later received, he built a foundation for people with cancer and their families to get help. In the end, Jason gave so much, and in return, did receive the ultimate gift.
SnoopyStyle
Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) is a spoiled rich kid. When his industrialist grandfather Red Stevens (James Garner) dies, the various family member are disappointed by their inheritance dispersed by Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs) and Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether). Jason and his grandfather did not get along especially with the lost of his beloved father. Red gives him the Ultimate Gift if he follows Red's instructions. First is the Gift of Work as he's forced to dig fence posts for Gus (Brian Dennehy). Second is the Gift of Friendship and they take away everything from him. He is tasked to find a friend. His girlfriend Caitlin (Mircea Monroe) abandons him. His mother (Donna Cherry) is told not to help him. Only Emily (Abigail Breslin) is willing to befriend him sleeping on a park bench. She has leukemia and her mother Alexia (Ali Hillis) is in dire straits. Jason is finally given money but it's only pay from the work with Gus. Third is the Gift of Money and he has to give away his paycheque. He decides to pay Alexia's rent. Fourth is the Gift of Family and he has to spend Thanksgiving with his family. Then he's sent to Ecuador where his father was killed by drug criminals. He continues the family's charity library for the locals. When he tries to see where his father was killed, he is kidnapped himself.This is one of those faith-based movie that is overwhelmed by its overwrought message. It is sincere to the point of being clunky. Drew Fuller or his character is not the most appealing lead. The best part is the adorable Abigail Breslin. At least, she adds some heart into this rather mechanical movie lesson.
