Some things are worth more than money. Indeed.
This prequel/sequel to The Ultimate Gift takes place partially a few years after the events of that movie. Between the pressure of running a foundation started by his late grandfather, being sued by his greedy extended family, and seeing his beloved Alexia leave on an extended mission trip to Haiti, Jason Stevens' world is unraveling. But when Jason discovers the lifelong journal his grandfather began as a Depression-era lad, Red Stevens' writings transport Jason to a front-row seat on an incredible rags-to-riches ride. With everything he loves hanging in the balance, Jason hopes he can discover the ultimate life. - (plot taken from movie's website).
There's a very strong message in the movie about valuing family over material possessions. Red grows up with confidence in becoming a billionaire, and lets his desire for money lead him astray. He gets pushed to the point of selfishness and extreme greed, and leaves his family in the dust. And when he achieves his dream of becoming a billionaire, he eventually realizes that there's much more to life than wealth. The movie criticizes bigotry and cockiness, it warns about the dangers of self-ambition and people not having healthy relationships with their families. Through reading about his grandfather's life, Jason learns about the importance of having a healthy relationship with his wife-to-be over focusing on his wealth.
The screenplay is quite well-done for a drama, with the emotional moments never getting too saddening or melodramatic. The acting is solid, with Drew Waters, Ali Hillis, Bill Cobbs, David Mann, Logan Bartholomew and others doing a nice job. Mark McKenzie does a solid music score. Finally, the movie opens with an explanation between this movie and its' predecessor, which helps explain things for viewers who haven't seen The Ultimate Gift. The cinematography is decent and the 40's backdrop is very well-perceived.
I found almost nothing wrong technically with this, though the plot is fairly predictable in places and its' fairly humorless. The lone comic relief of a goofy landscaper doesn't appear in the movie enough to make me do more than lightly chuckle.
Altogether, in a year that has had no real, live-action, effects-free family movies so far, I found The Ultimate Life very refreshing, as I have been treated to mostly eye candy this year. Plus, its' an inspiring, heartfelt, and overall well-made flick that anyone of any age should see.
Should Your Family See It? YES. The Ultimate Life is pure family entertainment with very little objectionable content. One 2-minute battle scene may only scare the most sensitive of children. Red's decision to leave home to pursue his billionaire dream may require a bit of discussion. Overall, this movie gets a Level 5 on the Family-Friendliness Scale, and I am recommending it for families with children ages 7 and up.
