Movie Review - The Ultimate Gift

This is one of the most powerful and moving films I have ever seen. It has a message about a young man who has to find out there is more to life than money. By completing a series of 12 "tasks" he learns the true meaning of life. Finding the ultimate gift is like finding your place in the world. Why are we here? What is our purpose? An excellent movie for the entire family!

This movie will definitely be joining our home video library!

Here is part of the review from the United Methodist Church website.

"Based on the uplifting bestseller by Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift tells the story of a man whose final act is to share his legacy with his family, passing on a lifetime of wisdom to those left behind and striving to finally right old wrongs. By most measures, Red Stevens (James Garner) was a success, both personally and professionally. He was a self-made billionaire, admired by his fellow oil tycoons and the undisputed head of his family. Unfortunately, the family he left behind is greedy, needy, and back-stabbing. They are focused on money and nothing more. In life, Red gave them too much, too easily, but shared too little moral guidance. In death, Red is determined to set this wrong right with at least one family member, his grandson Jason (Drew Fuller), who the only son of Red's eldest son who died tragically years ago.

In a videotaped message, Red (James Garner) announces that Jason (Drew Fuller) will indeed inherit the “ultimate” gift, but first must complete a series of twelve tasks.

Jason—spoiled and cynical from lavish trust funds and his dysfunctional family—makes an appearance at the reading of Red's will only to find out his share of the estate. He can barely contain his boredom and contempt for his family long enough to hear what his inheritance will be. In a videotaped message, Red announces that Jason will indeed inherit the "ultimate" gift, but first must satisfactorily complete a series of twelve tasks. What Jason doesn't realize is that the tasks are the gifts. They are meant to challenge him, make him think and force him into critical self-examination. At a ranch in Texas, for example, he learns the gift of hard work and the satisfaction of doing something yourself and doing it right. When he is stripped of his money, his trendy entourage falls away, and he discovers what a real friends is. And at the bedside of a critically ill little girl named Emily (Abigail Breslin), he learns the true meaning of family.

The Ultimate Gift is told with humor, warmth and a disarming simplicity that makes it easy to focus on its people and message. Relative unknown Drew Fuller holds his own as Jason, and solid supporting work by Garner, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy and up-and-comer Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) add some star wattage along the way. Gift occasionally feels like a Hallmark Channel original, but somehow it suits this old-fashioned, earnest movie. While most films struggle to come up with even one clear message (other than "whoever has the biggest guns wins"), this film has twelve strong ones. Some are spiritual, like the power of prayer (particularly during difficult times), while others might be considered "traditional," such as the value of hard work.

Two of the film's most important messages deal with the importance of forgiveness and the proper place of money in one's life. There's a lot of bad blood between Red and Jason, which was originally caused by the circumstances of the death of Jason's father. Over the years, however, the anger and bitterness between them becomes compounded, almost like interest. In the end, Jason and his grandfather are finally reconciled as Jason learns to forgive his grandfather.

At the bedside of a critically ill little girl (Abigail Breslin), Jason (Drew Fuller) learns the true meaning of family.

Many of Jason's tasks are meant to help him understand others, see life through their eyes and learn to forgive. He learns that forgiveness is essential to a life well spent-in friendship, family and life itself. He also learns that more money does not bring happiness. However, sharing your good fortune with those you love, those who have less, and particularly with those in dire need, can bring true happiness and deep, spiritual satisfaction.

At the heart of The Ultimate Gift is the deep truth that a life devoted to self is empty, but a life devoted to sharing one's self and God-given gifts with others is truly a life lived to its fullest. "