The Ultimate Gift (2006)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Michael O. Sajbel

Writers (WGA):

Cheryl McKay (screenplay)
Jim Stovall (book)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A life experience becomes a gift.

Plot:

Jason thought his inheritance was going to be the gift of money and lots of it. Was he ever in for a big surprise...

Plot Keywords:

Grandfather | Wealth | Lawyer | Wealthy | Inheritance

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

James Garner	...	Howard 'Red' Stevens
Bill Cobbs	...	Mr. Theophilus Hamilton
Lee Meriwether	...	Miss Hastings
George Lee	...	Pastor (as George Lee Masters)
Brett Rice	...	Bill Stevens
D. David Morin	...	Jack Stevens
Abigail Breslin	...	Emily Rose
Ali Hillis	...	Alexia
Drew Fuller	...	Jason Stevens
Mircea Monroe	...	Caitlin
Donna Cherry	...	Sarah Stevens
Catherine McGoohan	...	Ruth Stevens
Mark Joy	...	Bill's Lawyer
Mel Fair	...	Jack's Lawyer
Alecia Brady Curcuru	...	Bill's Wife

Also Known As:

Das ultimative Geschenk (Germany) (DVD title) [de]
To eshato doro (Greece) (DVD title) [el]

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, some violence and language.

Runtime:

USA:114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Company:

The Ultimate Gift LLC

Trivia:

The mayor who performs the groundbreaking ceremony of Emily's Home is actually the mayor of Charlotte, Patrick McCrory.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the scene between Emily and Jason in the hospital chapel, Emily's head changes between shots at the point when she says, "So, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?" The timing of the line's execution gives away the discontinuity.

Quotes:

Jason Stevens: Hello Emily, I missed you.
Emily: Whatever. Let's cut to the chase. You really blew it this Christmas
Jason Stevens: I'm sorry. I was held up.
Emily: Okay yea, well I want Christmas. i want to ride a horse.
Jason Stevens: A horse? Um... I've got a week or two left of this other thing but then i'll make a call and...
Emily: Jason, NOW!
Jason Stevens: Okay.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-03-17)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Breathe Me

Wonderful journey of self-discovery

Spoiled trust beneficiary playboy Jason Stevens is angry with his incalculably rich grandfather Red Stevens, and with his own life. When Red dies Jason shows up late for the funeral and makes a scene when he does show. But Red has prepared a "gift" for Jason's inheritance, unlike anything he leaves to the rest of the family. Indeed, Red leaves the rest of his self-absorbed and greedy Stevens family merely money. However, Jason's "gift" must be earned, and so Jason sets off on the quest. The quest for what Jason initially has no idea. In essence, Jason's quest is the quest of the aspiring knight who must slay his dragon to prove he is a man. Consequently, some may find the plot contrived or even hackneyed. But, as with all fables, it is the struggle that matters, not the circumstance, and what this movie shows is the very real struggle of all young men to find meaning in and a purpose for their lives. For some reason this kind of sentimentality is lately acceptable in war movies, but rarely elsewhere. Thus, it is refreshing to see in a context if minimal violence. When Jason finally gets his "gift" he has become a man that Red could be proud of, and who can be proud of himself. This is a deeply moving picture, and a well constructed one. But it is also one that one must be ready to watch.