O Presente

I gave "The Ultimate Gift" a 9 out of 10, which is an unusually high rank for me, but I can't describe enough how pleasantly surprised I was with this effort. Knowing as I went into the film that it was a "Christian" story, I had placed a lower ceiling on my expectations. Not that being "Christian" means that a movie has to be bad - it just usually seems to be the case. Not so much here, however. There were just three or four times where I felt my muscles tighten up as I mentally prepared for emotional cheese, but to my delight, they managed to pull out of it every time without leaving my intelligence insulted. It was a fun and cute story with believable characters, and strong performances all around. It was clean enough that you could take the whole family to see it, yet interesting enough that the parents will not only stay awake, but you'll actually find yourself caught up in a sweet, and sometimes tear-jerking story about redemption, and the pursuit of true joy. Christian-themed films have come a long way, and I look forward to what the future holds as they continue to get better. At this point, it's safe to say that "The Ultimate Gift" is among the best in Christian films on the market today. Definitely worth checking out.

After the death of the oil tycoon Howard 'Red' Stevens (James Garner), his greedy family is gathered in the office of his lawyer, partner and friend Mr. Theophillis 'Ted' Hamilton (Bill Cobbs) and his associated Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether) for reading the will. For his reckless and selfish grandson Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller), who hated him, Red assigns twelve apparently simple tasks called "gifts" – of work, money, friends, learning, problems, family, laughter, dreams, giving, gratitude, a day and love – challenging the playboy Jason to a journey of discoveries. When he meets the leukemic girl Emily (Abigail Breslin) and her mother Alexia (Ali Hillis), Jason changes his perspective of life and money, superseding the expectations of Red, improving and becoming a better man and receiving the ultimate gift from his wise grandfather.

What a wonderful surprise "The Ultimate Gift" is! This simple little movie has a magnificent story of discoveries, friendship, family values, redemption and love, supported by awesome performances highlighting the girl Abigail Breslin, whose witty dialogs make the viewer laugh and cry. Do not pay attention in the bad reviews in IMDb, and you will see a pleasant movie with a beautiful message. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Presente" ("The Gift")

I cannot believe some of the critical comments here. If you expected The Godfather, Steel Magnolias, or The Deer Hunter, this is NOT your movie. This is a family, Christmas, feel-good tear jerker. This is not a movie you later discuss with your friends over Chardonnay and cheese. Sure it is predictable, but all Christmas movies are. Abigail Breslin steals the show as young Emily. She is delightful. Someone commented she is preachy at times. If that surprises you, you have never seen children before. Yes, she is preachy, but in a delightful way. Perhaps it is not the best movie in its genre, but it is warm and pleasant to watch for the family. It's a Christmas movie.

James Garner, multi-billionaire has just died and in the tradition of today has left a living will. He's left a flock of relatives, most of them a gang of sponges who've never worked a day in their lives. One of those is a grandson, Drew Fuller, who seems no better than the others. But while Garner was living he spotted something in this young man, some potential which if realized makes him entitled to The Ultimate Gift.

What a shock young Fuller gets when he gets the first in a series of tapes where Garner charges him with performing a set of tasks to see if he's ready for The Ultimate Gift being it a fortune or whatever else is in store for him. Judging him will be attorney Bill Cobbs, but any number of other people in Garner's life will be involved. The first one happens to be Brian Dennehy owner of a big ranch in Texas, a Ewing sized spread where Fuller is first shown what it is like to do physical work out there for a paycheck. Not something he's accustomed to, but he does survive and goes on to other tasks, not necessarily jobs.

Not all, but a lot of people born to wealth never really appreciate what it is to earn and strive. Without all the right wing politics involved The Ultimate Gift is very close to the message that John Wayne was giving in McLintock. If you remember Wayne tells Stefanie Powers that she and her husband to be which turned out to be Patrick Wayne that as his daughter she will get a small well stocked spread, but not the cattle empire that he built. That will go to the nation as a national park. Wayne is concerned that many a young man will be wooing her for his fortune and the joy of life is the striving together that a man and woman do in raising a family and making wealth.

Garner also views the fortune he made as a trust that carries obligations and he wants Fuller to appreciate that fact as well. Fuller's life journey takes him all over the globe, but in the end he's judged ready to receive The Ultimate Gift, whatever that is.

This is a fine Hallmark Channel TV movie that teaches some valuable life lessons.

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.