The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

32% Tomatometer 59 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings

Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) lives a life of wealth and privilege. When his grandfather (James Garner) dies, Jason expects to receive a hefty inheritance. Instead, however, Jason must set out on a journey of self-discovery to earn the true gift his grandfather meant for him to have. Along the way, Jason befriends a dying girl (Abigail Breslin) and her mother (Ali Hillis) and learns what is really important in life.

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The Ultimate Gift

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Critics Consensus

Though The Ultimate Gift avoids religious speechifying like other Fox Faith films, it's dramatically inert with flat direction.

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Critics Reviews

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The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (1) Wesley Morris Boston Globe Rated: 2/4 Nov 24, 2011 Full Review The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (2) 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. Rated: 2/4 Aug 22, 2007 Full Review The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (3) 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. Mar 20, 2007 Full Review The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (4) Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com This is a film that will inspire many, frustrate others, and simply be dismissed by even more as nothing more than a cinematic greeting card. Rated: 3.0/4.0 Sep 26, 2020 Full Review The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Kevin Carr 7M Pictures The Ultimate Gift will put you in a diabetic coma. Rated: 1.5/5 Sep 9, 2007 Full Review The Ultimate Gift | Rotten Tomatoes (6) David Cornelius DVDTalk.com It's Self-Help: The Movie, and it stinks to high heaven. Rated: 1/5 Aug 21, 2007 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Charlie B The Ultimate Gift is one of the best movies I have ever seen and a perfect movie for the whole family. The Gifts of Work, Money, Friends, Learning, Problems, Family, Laughter, Dreams, Giving, Gratitude, the Gift of a Day and the Gift of Love. Watched the entire movie hugging my daughter, wife and son, so glad I chose this movie. James Garner is incredible in this movie. Of course any movie with a statue of Jesus Christ is always a good movie. There are two sequels to this movie, The Ultimate Life and The Ultimate Legacy. If they are half as good The Ultimate Gift I am certain they will be outstanding. Both my son and daughter want to watch the sequels. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 11/16/24 Full Review Gab G I absolutely love this movie 🥲🥲 very very recommended Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/16/24 Full Review Paul L I think this movie was highly underrated. The moral story of the gifts is a highly thoughtful and reflection on what people consider "gifts" and what truly is important in life. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review Carlos T Filme: O PresenteAssistido: 18-11-23Elenco: @abbienormal9 @drewfuller Bill Cobbs, Brian Dennehy, James Garner @missalihillis Modelo: #drama #comedia #romanceDuração: 1h 58mAno: 2006Minha opinião: Um filme tocante e emocionante. Que fala de um jovem playboy que tem de tudo e vive a vida no seu bel prazer. Até o dia que seu morre e no momento que todos querem saber de sua parte na herança, o vô (Garner) seu neto Jason para herdar a maior parte da herança incluindo a empresa, porém existe um desafio que ele deve cumprir para ter direito a tudo. Temos Cobbs como o advogado e amigo do avô. E assim ele vai em busca dos desafios e em cada faze uma nova. Até que vem em conhecer a pequena Emily e sua mãe Alexia. Com uma atuação primordia de Abigail na época uma criança. Fez deste filme com um suprassumo especial. Até que se descobre que Emily faz tratamento contra o câncer. E que tudo foi uma idéia de seu vô. A parte que toca no filme é a parte final, muito comovente e que não esperamos que um filme termine desta forma. Este filme tem uma parte 2. E como terminará este filme?Roteiro e enredo tocante e comovente. Boa atuação dos atores e ressalva para Abigail.Vale apena assistir? Sim. Com certeza. E sim rever vários atores que já se foram, como James Garner, Bill Cobbs, Brian Dennehy.Nota: 8,75 Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review Tim O I came here to give this a 3.5*. But seeing the "critics" tank it with a 33%, while the audiences gives it an *84%*, just convinces me, in spite of the fairly manipulative emotional content and heart-string tugging, along with a transformation pace that stains credulity, it's still a fulfilling holiday watch. So that's a *strong* 3.5* (I can't push it up in to 4*; there's too many more rarified films at that level it would have to match 😂) Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 12/21/23 Full Review Jace E The Ultimate Gift is a beautiful reminder of the value of life. While it is not the most groundbreaking film from a technical standpoint, the core message is both poignant and important. The relationships between Jason and the rest of the characters (especially Emily and Red) are emotionally driven and create immediate investment. There were melodramatic moments and the acting felt forced at times, but it did not distract too much from the message. Walking away, the film accomplishes its core objective of allowing the audience to reflect on their own acts and steps to become better people. Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 05/17/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Michael O. Sajbel Director Drew Fuller Jason James Garner Red Stevens Abigail Breslin Emily Ali Hillis Alexia Lee Meriwether Miss Hastings
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Synopsis Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) lives a life of wealth and privilege. When his grandfather (James Garner) dies, Jason expects to receive a hefty inheritance. Instead, however, Jason must set out on a journey of self-discovery to earn the true gift his grandfather meant for him to have. Along the way, Jason befriends a dying girl (Abigail Breslin) and her mother (Ali Hillis) and learns what is really important in life.

Director
Michael O. Sajbel

Producer
Dave Ross, Rick Eldridge, Cleve Landsberg, John Shepherd

Screenwriter
Cheryl McKay

Distributor
The Bigger Picture

Production Co
Dean River Productions

Rating
PG (Thematic Elements|Some Violence|Language)

Genre
Drama

Original Language
English

Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 9, 2007, Limited

Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 11, 2016

Box Office (Gross USA)
$3.4M

Runtime
1h 54m
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