Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Kevin Spacey | ... | Eugene Simonet | |
Helen Hunt | ... | Arlene McKinney | |
Haley Joel Osment | ... | Trevor McKinney | |
Jay Mohr | ... | Chris Chandler | |
Jim Caviezel | ... | Jerry (as James Caviezel) | |
Jon Bon Jovi | ... | Ricky McKinney | |
Angie Dickinson | ... | Grace | |
David Ramsey | ... | Sidney Parker | |
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Gary Werntz | ... | Mr. Thorsen |
Colleen Flynn | ... | Woman on Bridge | |
Marc Donato | ... | Adam | |
Kathleen Wilhoite | ... | Bonnie | |
Liza Snyder | ... | Michelle | |
Jeannetta Arnette | ... | Nurse | |
Hannah Leder | ... | Thorsen's Daughter (as Hannah Werntz) |
Young Trevor McKinney, troubled by his mother's alcoholism and fears of his abusive but absent father, is caught up by an intriguing assignment from his new social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet. The assignment: think of something to change the world and put it into action. Trevor conjures the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward--repaying good deeds not with payback, but with new good deeds done to three new people. Trevor's efforts to make good on his idea bring a revolution not only in the lives of himself, his mother and his physically and emotionally scarred teacher, but in those of an ever-widening circle of people completely unknown to him. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
In our world helping other people is perhaps the most important we can do. Children are the ones who often teach us how to behave in certain unpleasant circumstances. It is not only a moving story but everybody who sees this film stops for a moment or more and think over the meaning of life. One of the best American films I have ever seen with lots of good actors. Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt are wonderful. In secondary schools it should be a compulsory part of education. I am a teacher and when I want to talk about this topic I always choose this film and students find it a very good example, too. It has not got a happy ending like it often happens in life. It is not a stupid story, it gives us lots of extras. When I first watched it, at the end of the film I was full of emotions and just could not sleep for a while. To put it into a nutshell: Try it and pay attention to Pay it forward.