The Ultimate Gift Reviews

1. "It's a well-made little inspirational drama featuring both a familiar older star (James Garner) and a new one (Abigail Breslin)... And Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") steals her every scene as a precocious little girl dying of leukemia."
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer

2. "Still, Breslin's captivating performance reminds you why she was recently nominated for an Oscar; even in weird scarlet lipstick and a gloomy black cloche, she radiates warmth and a spiky, unforced spontaneity."
- The Washington Post

3. "Abigail Breslin demonstrates her range with a performance markedly different from her turn in "Little Miss Sunshine"."
- Variety

4. ""Ultimate" is also graced with fine performances from some A-list actors; among the best is Abigail Breslin ("Little Miss Sunshine") as Emily, a precocious girl who befriends Jason during his penniless stage. - MetroMix.com

5. "Abigail Breslin, playing a leukemia patient, demonstrates that she was not a one-note wonder in "Little Miss Sunshine"."
- The Christian Science Monitor

6. "...And Breslin brings such charm to her stereotypical role that it more than justifies her position as one of Oscar's youngest nominees."
- The Hollywood Reporter

7. "The folks behind "The Ultimate Gift" received a gift of their own in casting young Abigail Breslin well before the "Little Miss Sunshine" star went on to become an Academy Award nominee."
- Los Angeles Times

8. "Playing Jason’s love interest, Hillis (Must Love Dogs) does her best with flatly contrived material as does Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), who arrives on the scene like a prepackaged angel in a role that reeks of melodrama."
- The Austin Chronicle

9. "The one person that did breathe some life, and seemed to "get it" more than anyone else is Abigail Breslin, the Oscar nominated young actress from Little Miss Sunshine and No Reservations. She brings life and humor to her role as young Emily. She really lit up the screen and deserves all the credit for making this at all watchable."
- Draven99's Musings

10. "Another area where the film succeeds is in its cast as it blends seasoned pros like James Garner, Bill Cobbs, and Brian Dennehy with promising young stars like Drew Fuller and Abigail Breslin."
- DVDizzy.com

11. "Thus, when the film's last 15 minutes offers both tragedy and hope it rings rather hollow and, much due to a magnificent performance by Abigail Breslin, the tragedy plays much stronger than the hope. Indeed, it is young Abigail Breslin's performance as a young girl dying of leukemia who becomes Jason's one true friend that elevates "The Ultimate Gift" above mediocrity. Breslin, much like in her highly touted "Little Miss Sunshine" performance this year, offers a performance brimming with tenderness, hope, feistiness and utter delight. Breslin is rapidly becoming one of America's best young actresses."
- The Independent Critic

12. "Although The Ultimate Gift fails to impart its moral values to the audience, the movie does benefit from a handful of solid performances led by an outstanding Abigail Breslin, recently nominated for an Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine."
- Alternative Film Guide

13. "Some decent acting performances and a sturdy, if occasionally unbelievable, screenplay cements The Ultimate Gift together, in particular young up-and-coming Abigail Breslin. She commands the screen with charisma and charm, almost frightening for an actress so young."
- DVD Veredict

14. "Young Breslin steals every scene as the feisty but irrepressible Emily."
- FilmGuru.net

15. "The amusing and sometimes tender rapport between Fuller and Breslin emerges as the highlight of The Ultimate Gift. It’s a real treat watching these two together on screen. Breslin matches her Oscar-nominated work in Little Miss Sunshine with a brilliant performance in her key role here. Projecting a variety of intense emotions, she's like a miniature version of Bette Davis or Barbara Stanwyck in their days of celluloid glory."
- ReelTalK Movie Reviews

16. "Director Michael O. Sajbel hit a home run by casting Abigail Breslin. One more time she show us why she was nominated for an Academy Award. She brings her unique natural sweetness, innocence and one of a kind charm to highlight her supporting role."
- SmartCine

17. "Although Drew Fuller is the focus of the drama, the emotional vibrancy is delivered by Abigail Breslin, who proves that her Academy Award-nominated performance in Little Miss Sunshine was no fluke. With the smallest gesture or changes in her voice, she conveys the soulfulness of a pint-sized spiritual teacher who plays a crucial role in changing Jason's way of life."
- Spirituality & Practice

18. "Unlike Little Miss Sunshine, which was an ensemble film, all the strengths in this movie are solely due to Breslin's impressive performance. Little Miss Sunshine would've suffered terrible had Olive been played by anyone else, whereas The Ultimate Gift wouldn't even be a movie if Abigail Breslin did not play Emily. If you were amused by Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine, if you found her even remotely funny, you will find her absolutely lovely and endearing in The Ultimate Gift. If Abigail Breslin can maintain this level of intensity in her performances I see Oscars lined up at her feet. She is undoubtedly on her path to becoming the next Jodie Foster."
"Events are often unpredictable, and the acting ranges from genuine to genuinely good. Particularly noteworthy is Abigail Breslan (Oscar nominated child prodigy from 'Little Miss Sunshine') who gives another fine performance as Emily, a sick girl with a sharp tongue, but a good heart. Reflecting on God and heaven, she sagely says, "He paints every color of a butterfly with His fingers.""
- Amazon

The Ultimate Gift Reviews

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