Pay it Forward: A Film About Compassion

Pay It Forward is one of the most inspirational movies I have seen. The creator of the film came up with a great concept and was able to portray this idea to his audience in a marvelous manner. The film is about Trevor McKinney, an eleven-year-old boy who is in the seventh grade and is given the task of "changing the world". His social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet, who is played by Kevin Spacey, assigns the task.

Trevor, played by Haley Joel Osment, creates this unbelievable concept, which he calls "Pay It Forward". It is a program where one person helps three other people do things that they are not capable of doing alone. Throughout the movie, the audience realizes that the project is failing. However, the movie picks up when a reporter figures out the story behind it after someone pays it forward to him.

Trevor decides he is going to start paying it forward, and so he chooses to help a homeless man, his mother, and one of his friends. He first helps a homeless man get some food, money and a job. He then goes on to help his mother, played by Helen Hunt, by setting her up with his teacher, hoping that he would try to stabilize her life because she is a single mother and is also an alcoholic. The third person he tries to help is one of his young friend's whom is constantly getting beaten up.

The film provides the audience with an in-depth sense of humanitarianism. The true meaning of generosity is portrayed throughout the film. Trevor helps these three people, and they continue to pay it forward. However, at the end of the movie, he is trying to save his young friend, but unfortunately looses his life. Although, I believe he died a hero, he was unable to see how many people benefited from his concept.

The concept is presented in a great way. The actors in the film did a great job and were able to portray their characters wonderfully. Kevin Spacey and Helen Hunt do an amazing job, as well as Haley Joel Osment. The film is neither a comedy, nor an action movie. It is a serious film, which makes the audience realize how important generosity affects mankind. The actors did a wonderful job and I personally believe the caliber of this film ranks among the best films I have seen.