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The Ultimate Gift Review

Release Date: Mar 09, 2007
Rated: thematic elements, some violence and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 54 min.
Genres: Drama, Family
Director:Michael O. Sajbel
Cast:Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin, Lee Meriwether. Full cast + crew

Movies.com Critics

2.0

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… [like an] episode of Seventh Heaven. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

3.0

49

out of 100

Metascore^®
Mixed or average reviews
based on a weighted average of all
critic review scores.
40

out of 100

The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis
Reeking of self-righteousness and moral reprimand, Michael O. Sajbel's Ultimate Gift"is a hairball of good-for-you filmmaking.

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50

out of 100

Village Voice
Directed with accomplished impersonality by Michael O. Sajbel ( One Night With the King), The Ultimate Gift means well, but in the end it's "The Pursuit of Happyness" made from the ivory tower looking down instead of from the street looking up.

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50

out of 100

Entertainment Weekly
Kind of like a feel-good "Saw" for churchgoers, minus the sadistic games of death.

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50

out of 100

Los Angeles Times
The film constantly teeters on the fulcrum of its own treacly good intentions and simplistic parable-like storytelling, and the extent that it stays balanced is largely thanks to its agile cast.

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50

out of 100

The Hollywood Reporter Frank Scheck
"Gift" comes across as a television-ready effort that would work perfectly for Hallmark.

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50

out of 100

Chicago Tribune
The plot, though of the made-for-TV ilk, makes for good discussion fodder if you're trying to impress life's lessons on children or others you love. That said, be prepared to be hit over the head by the message, edifying as it is.

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70

out of 100

Variety Joe Leydon
Although cynics likely will reject The Ultimate Gift as warmed-over Capra-corn, this predictable but pleasant drama based on Jim Stovall's popular novel may be prized by those with a taste for inspirational uplift and heart-tugging sentiment.

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See all The Ultimate Gift reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 10+

Spoiled, vapid rich boy gets religion.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this faith-based indie drama features some bad behavior from its hero, including smoking, drinking, and casual sex (the last takes place off screen but is insinuated). He's arrested for breaking in to his ex-girlfriend's estate; when he's broke, he commits other minor crimes (panhandling, stealing, selling stolen goods). A grandfather dies of old age off-screen; his funeral is shown. Jason finds a crashed plane in Ecuador; while he's there, drug-dealing villains beat, imprison, chase, and shoot at him and his guide.

Families can talk about the change in Jason. What is the "ultimate gift" his grandfather teaches him? How do the various secondary characters -- his materialistic mother, the "bum" who steals in the park, the "amigo" in Ecuador -- help Jason learn his lesson? How does Emily provide Jason with a model for good behavior?
Is it obvious that this movie has faith-based messages? Why or why not?

The good stuff

Messages: The "gift" in question is a positive lesson for the main character, but it's a bit overshadowed by the effort it takes this unsympathetic character to discover it.
Role models: Jason is sullen and selfish (and prone to some petty crimes) until helearns the value of the lessons his grandfather teaches and turns nice. Ecuadorian drug dealers and others are subject to stereotypes. A bumsteals in the park. Emily uses the "L" (loser) sign to disrespect Jason.

What to watch for

Violence: Gus uses a cattle prod to jolt Jason awake; discussion of Jason's father's death in a plane crash (a visit to the crash site makes Jason sad); Jason and "Amigo" are kidnapped by drug dealers, beaten, and imprisoned; villains shoot at and chase Jason; he clobbers a guard to escape.
Sex: Hero's first girlfriend wears tight outfits, shows mild cleavage, and appears through a bedroom window embracing a new boyfriend; mild flirting and kissing between hero and new girlfriend; Jason's mother answers the front door in her nightgown, suggesting that her boyfriend is inside.
Language: One use of "BS" as initials; obnoxious phrases ("screw you," "shut up").
Consumerism: Sprite, Lacoste.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Jason drinks at a bar and smokes cigarettes before he learns his lessons; Jason is beaten and imprisoned by drug dealers in Ecuador.

Common Sense Media

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 3.998

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by geoelevation25

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