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Rating: 4 out of 5
“Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Forrest Gump will always have a special place with me. I grew up in the small town of Beaufort, SC, and most of the film was filmed in my town. The war and shrimp boat scenes were all filmed close to where I went to elementary school. Whenever I get a little homesick, I watch this film to see some of the locations that I know and have been to.
Forrest Gump isn’t one of the best films in the world, but it is by far one of the most entertaining as one sees how one person’s life can influence so many things in history. Actually, I will say it is a small parody of how life can turn out for someone who many people think wouldn’t amount to anything in the world.
Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth, Forrest Gump is the life story of a very kind man who goes through life with kindness and honesty even if his IQ is at 75. For some, his way of doing life is strange, but it shows that no matter what, your kindness can lead a person on a tremendous journey through life.
The film begins with Forrest Gump (Hanks) sitting on a bench waiting for the bus in Savannah, GA. As he is waiting, someone sits beside him, and first, he offers a chocolate and then begins his life story. It starts in 1951, in Greenbow, Alabama. We learn that young Forrest needs leg braces to correct his curved spine and cannot walk properly. He lives with his mama (Fields), who runs a boarding house out of their home. Here we see one of the major tenants who is none other than the king, Elvis Presley. We see that Forrest and Elvis somewhat bond as Elvis learns his iconic dance moves from Forrest and the way he walks. When Forrest tries to get into school and is denied because of his low IQ, his mama gets him in, and from here, he meets a girl named Jenny Curran (Wright), and the two become best friends. Forrest is often bullied at school for his physical disability and his low intelligence. Life changes when several bullies give chase to him. As he is trying to run away, his leg braces fall off, and he sees that he can run like the wind.
Now the story of Forrest Gump is funny because the running gag is that he is always at the right place at the right time in history no matter where he is at in life. That he is one of the luckiest people in the world to see so many history-changing events, but in his mind, it was just another day, and he usually gives an emphatic nod, wave of the hand, and just a simple shrug. Forrest becomes a world-class college football star, wins the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, becomes a world-class ping pong player, then becomes a shrimp boat captain that leads him to becoming a multi-millionaire and then just starts running and crosses the United States many times before stopping. Oh, and let’s not forget he is the idea behind the smiley face and s**t happens quotes.
One of the areas I thought was blah was the whole love aspect with Jenny. Jenny was a free-loving but trifling girl. I understand you exploring and doing your thing. That is what life is supposed to be about. Yet, Forrest LOVED that girl for so many years, and she would come in and out of his life. Then she drops two major bombshells on him and was like, please marry me. I think Jenny loved Forrest as a friend but not anything romantically. My thing is this with Jenny. When Forrest tells her he loves her, she responds back with, “Forrest, you don’t know what love is.” My thing is, Jenny, do you really know what love is? Your life wasn’t all sunshine and roses, and you seemed to not know what love was either.
I will say that the best part of the whole film is showing Forrest in recent American history. I know I already said it, but the special effects are quite funny and amazing to watch. The film places Forrest with many historical people. He shakes hands with President Kennedy and says he has to go pee. He shows his butt to President Johnson because he called it a million-dollar wound. Forrest also sat next to Lennon on the Dick Cavett. The special effects add so much appeal to this film.
Tom Hanks was the perfect choice for this role, and I don’t think anyone else could portray Forrest like he did. Actually, Hanks just has that genuine and good nature heart about him, and maybe that is why he worked so well. He had the perfect balance of dry humor, sadness, seriousness, and lovability.
Robin Wright as Jenny Curran was also great. I really didn’t like her character too much, but overall she played Jenny as the crazy, wild, and free-loving person of that era. One of the scenes where you thought she would get her life together was when she stood on top of that ledge, and you thought she was going to jump. Also, Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan Taylor was a joy to watch. I thought the character’s background was great because every one of his ancestors who fought in a U.S. war died in that war. Lt. Dan saw it as his destiny to die in battle. Yet, he loses his legs and becomes bitter and depressed. Yet, he finds his life calling in being Forrest’s first mate at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, where he forgives Forrest and finds a new lease on life.
Forrest Gump is an entertaining film that shows that life can take you to many places in time and history. It is delightful to see all the spots and moments that happen in Forrest’s life, from meeting Elvis to the Presidents and being the inspiration for the smiley face. Tom Hanks was great in this film, along with Robin Wright and Gary Sinise. Sit down and enjoy this fun movie.
