The Ultimate Gift (DVD, 2009, Dove O-Ring)

Drew Fuller plays Jason Stevens, a VERY convincing spoiled rich kid who comes up against Abigail Breslin, a little girl who is dying of cancer, and between Abigail and Jason's grandfather, "Red," (played by James Garner) Jason receives a series a challenges he must complete in order to inherit the Stevens empire. So you have the traditional story where the kid who has nothing and is about to lose everything teaches the kid who has everything, and feels nothing, what is truely important. The character dynamics are wonderful and Jason's transition might actually have you believing in miracles by the end of the movie. Oh, and speaking of the end of the movie, DO NOT forget the tissue box - you'll need it.

With the formation of 20th Century Fox's new Christian division, Fox Faith, the studio is set to launch several films aimed at a Christian audience. At the top of the pile is "The Ultimate Gift," a movie filmed two years before Abigail Breslin became a household name with "Little Miss Sunshine."

"The Ultimate Gift" follows Jason Stevens, an apathetic youth who must jump through a few hoops before receiving an inheritance left by his late, enormously wealthy grandfather. Along the way, Jason awakens from the disillusioned life he's been leading and meets a multitude of colorful characters.

"The Ultimate Gift" is so polished because it had a higher budget than most films in the inspirational genre. Sad to say, but money rules the day, and most faith films have less than $1 million dollars to work with. Apart from bludgeoning the viewer with a message while sacrificing quality scrips, filming or acting, many of these low-budget inspirational films are barely qualified TV movies.

But "The Ultimate Gift" is different. While the script does suffer from a few obvious plot holes, the film is mostly solid. Nor does it shove its message down the audience's throat. In all, a good inspirational film with Christian elements and an accomplished cast.

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I wanted my own copy of this movie so I could watch it time and again and also share it with family and friends. It is a wonderful, moving story about a spoiled young man who discovers true friends and kindness to others change his reasons for living. I guarantee you will have tears in your eyes through half of this film, but it will leave much warmth in your heart and soul forever. It offers good lessons for living, and wonderful performances by Bill Cobbs, James Garner, and Lee Merriweather and several young, new and upcoming actors whom you won't forget. Since I first saw it at the theater, I have been recommending it to others more than any other movie I have ever seen. Don't miss this one!

"The Ultimate Gift" is a story of a wealthy young man who learns the meaning of life by following a set of tasks his recently deceased grandfather has set out for him, at the end of each he receives a gift. Along his way, he learns the true value of friends and hard work and gets the Ultimate Gift.

The Ultimate Gift is based on a book and I think the book would probably be better than the movie (most books are). The story definitely has a good moral, and you can relate with Jason Stevens as he goes through his spiritual journey. The movie is entertaining to watch and is one of the few family movies that you can actually feel good at the end. Overall I would recommend seeing the movie.

When his wealthy grandfather finally dies, Jason Stevens fully expects to benefit when it comes to the reading of the will. But instead of a sizable inheritance, Jason receives a test, a series of tasks he must complete before he can get any money. Abigail Breslin and Lee Meriwether also star in this coming-of-age drama based on the novel by Jim Stovall.