But other scenes are drowned out with the usual sappy music. I liked composer Thomas Newman's perky little theme music for the film, but he regresses to the usual weeping violins for the dramatic moments. When you have actors this good, their faces should provide all the music we need. It's insulting that they think we need help. Screenwriter Dixon fares about the same.
Some scenes are extremely powerful and restrained, and others go over the top.
Much of Spacey's classroom dialogue, especially his opening speech, is great stuff. But when Jon Bon Jovi as the estranged husband appears and only has two scenes to swing from Humble to Surly, his dialogue comes across as pretty contrived. Overall, it's the skill of the three main actors who keep Pay It Forward on track and allow me to recommend it. It really could have been derailed right from the start, but it retains a good deal of emotional truth throughout. Like a toddler learning to walk, it keeps falling down and then getting back up again.