The Ultimate Gift (2007)
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32% of critics liked it
(59 reviews) -
84% of users liked it
(39,446 ratings)
Filmmaker Michael O. Sajbel explores the relationship between wealth and happiness with this spiritual-minded tale about a privileged young man who receives a most unexpected inheritance. Adapted from the best-selling book by author Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift opens as trust-fund baby Jason… More Filmmaker Michael O. Sajbel explores the relationship between wealth and happiness with this spiritual-minded tale about a privileged young man who receives a most unexpected inheritance. Adapted from the best-selling book by author Jim Stovall, The Ultimate Gift opens as trust-fund baby Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) prepares to receive a sizable inheritance from his late grandfather Red (James Garner). Though Jason is convinced that the money is about to come flowing in, he receives a sudden shock upon discovering that Red has instead decided to offer him something much more valuable than simple cash. Realizing that his spoiled grandson has lived a sheltered life in which he has always been handed the very best of everything, Red has devised a crash course in living comprised of 12 gifts that will challenge the arrogant young man in ways that he could never have imagined nor anticipated. In the weeks that follow, Jason will befriend a terminally ill child (Abigail Breslin) and her grief-stricken mother (Ali Hillis) while attempting to determine whether it is money or happiness that truly matters in life. Brian Dennehy and Lee Meriwether co-star in an uplifting drama from the director of The Ride and One Night with the King. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael O. Sajbel
- Written By
- Cheryl McKay
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Oct 20, 2006 Wide
- Studio
- Fox Faith
Critic Reviews
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Lou Lumenick, New York Post
This new film moves along smoothly until Grandpa's most preposterous mission - which needlessly drags out the movie -- takes Jason to a severely caricatured Ecuador.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
I think urban sophisticates can be people of faith who want to see movies, occasionally, that don't have the four-letter words, and I do embrace religion, but I think they have to be better than this.
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Erin Clements, Time Out New York
If you missed the money-isn't-everything message, an end-credits recap outlines the story's salient points -- if you'd known, you could've skipped the rest.
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, Boston Globe
Christian charity, in this movie, seems like a side-effect of capitalism.
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Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
[James] Garner is good, and so is Brian Dennehy as a crusty ranch owner; Abigail Breslin, playing a leukemia patient, demonstrates that she was not a one-note wonder in Little Miss Sunshine.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Drew Fuller
as Jason Stevens
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James Garner
as Howard "Red" Stevens
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Ali Hillis
as Alexia
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Abigail Breslin
as Emily Rose
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Lee Meriwether
as Miss Hastings
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Brian Dennehy
as Gus
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Bill Cobbs
as Ted Hamilton
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Mark Joy
as Bill's Lawyer
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D. David Morin
as Jack Stevens
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Brett Rice
as Bill Stevens
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Catherine McGoohan
as Ruth Stevens
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Mel Fair
as Jack's Lawyer
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David Temple
as Ruth's Husband
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Mircea Monroe
as Caitlin
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Jim Stovall
as Limo Driver
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Rick Eldridge
as Banker #2
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George Lee Masters
as Pastor
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Donna Cherry
as Sarah Stevens
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Alecia Brady Curcuru
as Bill's Wife
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Patrick McCrory
as Mayor
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Calvin Thompson
as Blind Guy

