The Ultimate Gift
Description
When his wealthy grandfather dies, trust fund baby Jason Stevens inherits his grandfather’s crash course on life: 12 tasks-or gifts-designed to challenge Jason in improbable ways. The “course” sends Jason on a journey of self-discovery that forces him to reevaluate his priorities and determine what he thinks the most important things in life really are.Amazon.com
The Ultimate Gift is a tale of one man’s tumultuous journey toward personal growth and fulfillment. Surrounded in life, and death, by avaricious family members fueled by a sense of entitlement, billionaire Red Stevens (James Garner) wants to bequeath at least one member of his extended family “the ultimate gift”: something he perceives as immensely more valuable than material wealth. Red’s arrogant grandson Jason (Drew Fuller) holds a deep-seated hatred for his newly-deceased grandfather, so he’s surprised to learn from his grandfather’s friend and lawyer Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs) and assistant … More >> The Ultimate Gift
May 25th, 2010 at 2:54 pm
I’m definitely in the minority among viewers, but to me, this movie was like a Hallmark channel movie of the week reject.
It was totally predictable, with more cliches and stereotypes than I would have thought it possible to jam into a single film.
The huge gaps in reality alternately annoyed me (a child going through end stage leukemia and chemo is totally healthy looking and perky) and made me laugh (a month in the Texas sun doing hard manual labor and the star doesn’t even get a little sun burned or calloused).
The end moral of the story seemed to be that if you have enough money you can do some good in the world (yet, it never addressed the fact that the money was made by exploiting the earth for oil and raising cattle, among other things).
There was nothing remotely “spiritual” about this maudlin and manipulative film. I found it a total waste of two hours. Rating: 1 / 5
May 25th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Based on the novel by Jim Stovall, “The Ultimate Gift” is a hunk of sentimental whimsy that’s as apt to stimulate your gag reflex as your tear ducts or funny bone. It’s strictly for those with a fondness for manipulative tearjerkers that aim to instill inspirational life lessons into their beaten-down viewers.
Jason Stevens (the un-charismatic Drew Fuller) is a spoiled, ne’er-do-well rich kid who learns the “true meaning of life” from his dead, zillionaire grandfather (the venerable James Garner) who has set up a series of values-instilling “tests” for the young man to pass before he can receive the hundred-million-dollar inheritance that has been earmarked for him in the old codger’s will. In the heavily contrived screenplay, childhood leukemia, Latin American rebels and a bevy of overly-caricatured elitist snobs all get thrown into the mix – and not only is it all supposed to somehow fit together, but it’s clear we’re intended to get something worthwhile and meaningful out of the whole shebang as well. Actually, you’ll probably find yourself wanting to throttle most of the characters in the movie, particularly the condescending, control-freak of a dead man (even from beyond the grave, he instructs Jason on how to live his life via videotapes he recorded before his death) and the two benignly smug partners he’s instructed to carry on the business of soul-restoration in his absence. Even Abigail Breslin, of “Little Miss Sunshine” fame, ultimately sets the teeth on edge with her too-cutesy-by-half impersonation of a dying child.
And just in case you somehow managed to miss the message that they have been pounding into your skull for nigh unto two full hours at this point, the filmmakers thoughtfully provide a recap of each of Jason’s “gifts” as part of the closing credits.
“The Ultimate Gift” is one of those movies that exists solely to reduce its audience to a quivering mass of throat lumps and tears while making them feel good about themselves and the world around them at the same time. Unfortunately, it has all the grit and depth of one of those Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas-miracle tales that crop up on TV with alarming regularity every holiday season. Forget the Kleenex and pass out the insulin-filled syringes instead. Rating: 2 / 5
May 25th, 2010 at 8:36 pm
I had high hopes for this movie based on other reviews & a plot with potential. (A remake, of sorts, of an old Rock Hudson movie, Magnificent Obsession.) Saddly this writer/director combination isn’t ready for prime time–it all looks like a rough first draft.
[Plot points to be revealed in the following discussion.]
The opening scene shows a mother & daughter at the rainy graveside of billionaire James Garner. Why are they there? Apparently because his name is on the wing of the hospital where the daughter is being treated for leukemia. Oh yes? Would any mother take her critically ill daughter to a funeral of a stranger? And even if she wanted to, viewings may be open to the public but surely a billionaire’s graveside ceremony is reserved for family members and invited guests.
Do waiters gush “Oh sir, most of our patrons find this wine too expensive!” ?? Only in creaking scripts like this.
In short, the writer had no idea how to illustrate & move along his story so it’s full of lame scenes. How is it that someone who has a trust fund can overnight become homeless? By what mechanism was his bank account emptied out? Are we really to believe that shallow jet-setters have no one who will put them oup for the night if they are abruptly ejected from their condo?
The list of life-doesn’t-work-that-way scenes clunk’s along with slow moving, artless direction. And why does the little girl wear ghoulish purple lipstick?
Apparently those who praised this movie are willing to accept any tripe as long as there’s no sex or violence. (Boobs & shootouts are offensive while a plot with the gratuitous death of a child is “inspiring.”) Not for me.
Give this one a miss. Rating: 2 / 5
May 25th, 2010 at 9:00 pm
The video only worked half way through the movie and stopped; however amazon did work quickly and sent another right out when i told them of the problem. Rating: 3 / 5
May 25th, 2010 at 11:50 pm
I watched this film completely. I sooo wanted to like it. I’m a movie buff and love James Garner, so I thought the film gets 3 stars for him and his preformance: otherwise it would get less. The story is predictable, weak and very lame. I found NO inspiration here. If you want to watch a good family film watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” or a cartoon like “Antz”. Rent this film instead of wasting your money buying it. Rating: 3 / 5