Pay It Forward
ETH 316

Pay It Forward
“Pay it forward” is not only a movie but also an assessment of child which dialogues about Trevor’s life and his assignment. Let us consider the impending impact 11-year-old Trevor McKinney as portrayed by actor Haley Joel Osment. As seventh grade student who is challenged by his Social Studies teacher Eugene Simonet played by actor Kevin Spacey in an extra credit assignment to change the world.

Living is difficult for the young Las Vegas resident Trevor and single mother Arlene played by actress Helen Hunt. Challenging issues of both physical and sexual abuse, along with extreme alcoholism plague the McKinney family. Arlene has dissociated from her son by her severe drinking problem and habitual poor decision making. She is a casino worker by day and strip club waitress at night. Her son Trevor is no run of the mill son. The child sees the potential difference he can make in a world that he does not like the look of. His plan for change is to influence the lives of three people. If the three people accept, it will become their duty and obligation to continue with his idea of “paying it forward”, instead of taking it back by impacting the lives of three other people. This becomes the idea of “one person reaching another” to “one person reaching out to three.” Ultimately the results can revolutionize the earth.

The movie “Pay It Forward” is conveyed in an interesting present-day to earlier and back to the present type storyline by means of a pushy reporter who is freely handed a stylish new Jaguar car. The generous Jaguar owner reveals to the reporter he is just “paying it forward.” Moved by this idea of kindness, the reporter is determined to find the origin of this proclamation, leading him to many others whose lives have been eternally impacted by the visionary idea devised by a seventh grade student. The story progresses effectively and offers methodical mastery and Oscar worthy performances.
This film is definitely recommended for many teens and adults to watch, yet it is not for everyone. The PG-13 rating is for mature elements:, brief violence, adult language, substance abuse/recovery and sexual situations. Hunt’s character dresses very slutty in many scenes, including a few scenes where she is seen in her bra and the use of the “S” word during the course of the picture. Females strippers are also incorporated toward the beginning of the film as we are introduced to Arlene’s night employer.
Helen Hunt’s portrayal in “Pay It Forward” has her son Trevor working to set up his mother with his social studies teacher, and in the end he succeeds. He is overjoyed to know they had a sleepover at his house, as it means an ending of future abuse from his deadbeat father, played by Jon Bon Jovi that may appear again. It also mentions the happiness his mother and teacher experience when with one another. There are a few scenes of violence, though nothing overdramatic. Not only do we learn that Arlene’s past is riddled with physical and sexual abuse, but also Mr. Simonet was burn-scarred from a fire. In a touching monologue, this shows just how degraded our world can be because he can never forget the past. Other situational ethics concern in the movie, two of the individuals “paying it forward” do so in contempt to the law, though one can see that the decency received caused them to find promise in the world, steering them on to help others.
If the movie “Pay It Forward” does not test God fearing people to be salt and light in a dissolute world, my recommendation is for individuals with a lack of interest contemplate deeply inward to see if Christ surely has transformed their heart. If Trevor, an impoverished pre-teen with no Christian upbringing or values can see the impression he can make for the good, what more should we be doing to reach the aimless? Homes are ablaze around us, people inside, and how many of good faith are prepared to let those in peril know how to get out their perpetual calling and find their path to everlasting existence? Jesus paid the supreme price thousands of years ago for everyone. He “paid it forward,” and we are obligated to assisting him in our lives.