Metacritic Movie Ratings
The Ultimate Gift Reviews

A sample of reviews from critics across the country.

• 70

  out of 100

  VarietyJoe 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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• 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

  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

  The Hollywood ReporterFrank Scheck

  "Gift" comes across as a television-ready effort that would work perfectly for Hallmark.

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• 40

  out of 100

  The New York TimesJeannette 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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