Plot

The school boy named Trevor McKinney (Haley Joel Osment) is given a project to complete by his social studies teacher Eugene Simonet (Kevin Spacey). His project is to came higher by using the project that might vary the world across direct action. In his way page from either school afterwards that day, Trevor notices the homeless man, Jerry (James Caviezel) and decides to produce the difference to Jerry's life. Trevor so comes higher by using a eponymous plan to "pay it forward" by doing a good deed for trio humans world health organization must successively apiece benefit deeds for tierce more humans. Trevor's project is to help Jerry by feeding & housing him thus he may "get on his feet".

A next morning, Trevor's mother, Arlene McKinney (Helen Hunt), a single mother & convalescent alcoholic, becomes angry with Trevor when sorting through Jerry in their home. She so confronts Eugene just about how come Trevor has allowed Jerry into their residence. Eugene is besides intrigued by Trevor's response to the social studies design.

Late that nighttime back at their residence, Trevor confronts his mother just about her alcoholism & within a healthy of anger she slaps him through the face first. Trevor diarrhea out of residence & she contacts Eugene to help her call for him. It call for Trevor at the bus station about to be molested by the pedophile, whom Eugene promptly drags away and beats. Trevor & Arlene embrace within relief when Arlene apologizes profusely.

Meanwhile, Chris (Jay Mohr) a journalist, is trying to find retired how come the number alien gave him the brand fresh car when Chris' old vehicle was damaged within the car accident. A unknown's only explanation is that he is simply "paying it forward".

When Trevor's apparently abortive attempt to help Jerry, he decides to help Eugene by setting him higher by having his mother. Their relationship grows inside nature and severity until Arlent's ex-ex (Jon Bon Jovi) shows up unpredicted & Arlene decides to give him a second risk, world health organization claims he has "changed" & has quit alcohol.

Once Arlene late endeavors to show else you her selection to Eugene, a audience learns how Eugene's burns were the effect of terrible child abuse by Eugene's father. Eugene is caring non upright about a abusive & violent nature and severity of Trevor's father, however that the pure absence of a caring father is prejudicial to Trevor's swell existence. Arlene feels that she must withal give her ex hubby an additional risk, however shortly thenceforth he becomes angry & violent & it appears that he has non as a matter of fact stopped sucking down alcohol. Arlene realises what a terrible mistake she has processed. She feels that Eugene may never require her back, & Eugene for his a portion is non prepared to rekindle a relationship.

Chris eventually hunt down Trevor when a conceiver of "pay it forward", which appears to exist as turning into the social movement, and conducts an interview at the school. Trevor explains his hopes for the construct, however voices his concerns that humans can be as well afraid to vary their have passes sequentially to produce the whole globe a better place. Eugene & Arlene come each present in a period of the locate. Whilst Eugene hears Trevor's words he realises that he & Arlene should exist as together.

When Eugene & Arlene reconcile using the passionate embrace, it hear call & scuffling outside. Trevor has are to the defence of the friend world health organization is existence attacked by bullies, & is trying to fight the children slay although it is older and large. When Eugene & Arlene start down to prevent the fight, a independent roughneck impetuously pulls a knife and stabs Trevor. Trevor is rushed to hospital but dies from a stabbing.

Terribly overwrought, Arlene & Eugene come late watching the television news report about "pay it forward" & Trevor's demise, & see that a movement has grown countrywide. Venturing outside, it witness hundreds of humans gathering inside the vigil to pay their respects to Trevor, while other population come arriving within a constant stream of vehicles seeable slay into the few feet away.

Life imitating art

A idea of the book and film has been bring around life per [http://www.payitforwardfoundation.org/ Pay It Forward Foundation], & through the operate of social activist Jane Tewson and the non-profit organization she founded, [http://www.timebank.org.uk/ Timebank].

Main cast
Haley Joel Osment — Trevor McKinney Helen Hunt — Arlene McKinney Kevin Spacey — Eugene Simonet James Caviezel — Jerry Jay Mohr — Chris Chandler Angie Dickinson — Grace