Movie Review – Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

Imdb: 8.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field

“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it’s both.” – Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a 1994 film directed by Robert Zemeckis. It won 6 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Director. It’s hard to pin down the genre of the film, but the most appropriate description would be that it’s a mixture of comedy, drama and romance. Tom Hanks plays the role of Forrest Gump and Sally Field plays his mother.

Early on in the movie it is revealed that Forrest has a crooked spine and a low IQ. Forrest’s condition looks a lot like autism but this is not specifically mentioned in the movie. Forrest is incredibly optimistic and shows a lot of perseverance. Without actually ever intending to, he ends up achieving remarkable things. These include becoming a football star, meeting John F. Kennedy, getting a medal of honor for the war in Vietnam, defeating the Chinese national team in table tennis, becoming an original investor in Apple and finally, running across the country for several years. The events of history are unfolded through Forrest’s eyes. While Forrest’s life is dramatically changing as he achieves all this, there is one constant in his life that keeps coming back – his childhood love, Jenny. The movie heavily focuses on the relationship between Forrest and Jenny.

Tom Hanks has done an incredible job in the movie and it is not surprising that the most appealing element of the movie is the character of Forrest. Viewers are captivated by his charm right from the start of the movie and it is his both, his simplicity, and his undeterred determination that wins their hearts. Forrest Gump is a man who has never let his disability become disabling and perhaps that it is why this movie is so inspirational. It contains a message for all of us who tend to get weighed down in the face of difficulties. Another one of Forrest’s defining values is sincerity. Forrest shows utmost sincerity to anyone he develops a relationship with, be it his friend Bubba or his Lieutenant Dan. Jenny, although admittedly very annoying at times, represents what it feels like to be growing up. She is confused, stubborn, selfish and often makes very questionable decisions but Forrest sticks by her through it all. The movie contains an important theme of unconditional love.

The movie is unconventional, there is no shocking climax, no antagonists and it could even be argued that it does not have a well defined plot. However, the movie is bound to leave a mark. The direction and dialogue are profound and impact full. Viewers are bound to feel a plethora of emotions as the movie progresses and the movie will have you both, laughing, and crying, many times at the same time. There are many lines from the movie that are still remembered today, such as “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you’re going to get next.” If the movie had to be described in one word, I would choose bittersweet. It will leave you feeling terribly emotional, but in a good kind of way. The movie contains many life lessons that cannot be explored within the breadth of this review, therefore I urge you to watch the movie if you haven’t already.