Whatever the perception you might have about the finished film, there can be no denying that it did lead to something much greater, and in tandem with the published book, the "Pay It Forward" movement was born. The movement, reflected at the payitforwardmovement.org website, was founded on the simple "idea" and continues to grow and remains strong and vibrant even five years later. A quick check of the site reveals more than five hundred instances of the "Pay It Forward" movement being put into practice from all around the world. Of course that is only what the site has been informed about, or what they have had time to update. The real number associated with the movement, if it is even possible to hazzard a guess, is probably quite staggering in terms of the size and scope for such a simple concept.

More proof that the movement continues to thrive can be found with a quick search at something easy like the Google News site. With a basic parameter of "pay it forward", the site returns pages of instances of the movement from just the last couple of weeks alone. The most recent flood of entries are found from those wanting to "pay it forward" to help those affected by the recent hurricanes... and to think it all started with one little idea.

During these cynical times, would such a simple idea have flourished were it not for the direct influence of that little angel? His very open, honest, and raw performance in showing what just might be possible, and how he portrayed the character with the innocence required to help plant the idea deep in our hearts, provided the spark needed to help get the movement started.

Not from the two Academy Award winning adult actors in the film, but from the one little angel with the very big heart.

Perhaps that is something worth noting, for a production so top-heavy with Academy Award winners, and additionally pitched as the next film since the emergence of the most talented young actor the world has probably ever known... what would be the fitting just reward for such a film?

Maligned in much of the media and branded as being "manipulative", especially for the willful expression of the ending... but I am not so sure such a brand was warranted, if the ending did not change how you preceived the central intent of the film when viewed from beginning to end. That intent was only made possible because of the innocence necessary for such ideas to even be given a chance, and such innocence is only granted by the angels. The willful expression of the ending simply served as the natural denouement for the film.

Five years since the film premiered, perhaps it is only now that we can finally understand the true reward, a better term might be the true gift of this film, which instead of little gold statues... we were given the "pay it forward" movement to help remind us that sometimes a film can achieve just a little more. The detractors of the film will continue to voice their concerns, but as they slowly fade into the past, the movement continues to grow around the world. It is right there that I think "Pay It Forward" will forever be remembered for what it has given us, and not for what some thought it was, or should have been. There can be no better and lasting award for this film, than with the continued legacy provided by the "pay it forward" movement... a movement started by one little angel.

Quite often I have read messages where someone having just watched the film, asks a question if it might be possible for such an idea to work... well, the only answer is a resounding YES! The "Pay It Forward" movement is alive and well and waiting for all us to help contribute to it. We do not have to second guess ourselves that we might be too small to start something so big... that has already been taken care of for us, and it was taken care of by that wonderful little angel. He made it possible, as his heart was more than big enough to get something so huge and so important started. It has been five years my dear reader, and the movement... it has reached you.

calling all angels calling all angels walk me through this one don't leave me alone callin' all angels callin' all angels we're tryin', we're hopin' we're lovin' and we're hurtin' we're cryin', we're callin'...