Forrest Gump is a 1994 film adaptation of a Winston Groom novel about a man (played by Tom Hanks) with a below average IQ who, despite all odds, lives a very successful and rich life. The film won numerous awards, including Best Picture at the Oscars, and quickly became a favorite among both audiences and critics. It’s one of the most quotable films in recent memory, with lines like “Life is like a box of chocolates” and “Run, Forrest! Run!” becoming staples in the lexicon of pop culture. It has even inspired a chain of restaurants called Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, now at over 30 locations across America (I once went to one in New Orleans). It is extremely difficult to avoid this fondly remembered film, since it is played and talked about EVERYWHERE. I’ve fortuitously seen it multiple times, and I am sure you all have, too. So what is the point of reviewing it now? What could I possibly say about this film that could change how you view it?
Wait, I got something: This film is extremely stupid.
Now before you start raging against me, let me just say that overall, this is a good movie. Robert Zemeckis, who directed such technical masterpieces like the Back to the Future movies and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, once again proves his special effect mastery with Forrest Gump. The illusion of Forrest being part of historical archival footage, while looking a bit dated by today’s SFX standards, was probably revolutionary in the day. Also, I was very impressed by the effect used to edit out Lt. Dan’s legs after the Vietnam portion of the film. The cinematography and the acting were pretty good as well. The person who stole the show for me was Robin Wright as Forrest’s high school sweetheart, Jenny. The scenes with her were easily the best of the show, especially the excellent scene in which Forrest and Jenny talk on the bridge and you are made to believe that Jenny was going to jump off of it. Combined with the kickin’ nostalgic soundtrack, we have a well-made movie that emotionally engages the audience, for the most part.
However, for every good thing that I can say about the film, I can match it with an insultingly idiotic moment that completely took me away from the plot. While I thought the movie was good as a whole, it’s these little moments that take away all of the believability and sincerity of the otherwise inspirational story. So let’s tackle a select few of these moments together, shall we?
Right from the beginning, we get a stupid moment when we learn how Forrest got his name. Forrest was named after General Nathan Bedford Forrest, a distant relative of his and the first Great Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. In a narration, Forrest said his mama named him that to, and I quote, “remind [him] that sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense.” No. That is a horrible reason to name your child that! You want to constantly remind your child about his racist family history instead of, you know, just talking to him about it and making him understand that way? What kind of life lesson is that, anyways?
Another moment that “just don’t make no sense” is later in the movie, when Forrest meets President Nixon. Nixon tells Forrest, with cameras all around, that he can stay the night at the Watergate Hotel, the same night that the infamous break-in occurred. It is revealed that Forrest was the one who inadvertently exposed the robbers that night when he saw their flashlights in the windows outside. My question is, why would Nixon recommend that hotel to Forrest the same night as the break-in? It just seems weird to me. Furthermore, why would he publicly tell him this in front of a bunch of video cameras? Wouldn’t you think he’d want no association with Watergate, knowing the consequences if they got caught that night? The whole setup just seems too contrived and coincidental for it to be believable or even funny.
Forrest has two chance meetings with famous rock stars. The first one was with Elvis Presley, who boarded in his mother’s house when he was still a child. Forrest still had his leg braces at this point, and when Elvis played on his acoustic guitar, Forrest would awkwardly dance to the music with his bent knees in a style that was inadvertently similar to Elvis’ legendary gyrations. The implication here is that Forrest influenced Elvis’ dancing style before he actually broke out as a music star. What’s the point of that? Why does Elvis’ dancing need to be explained away in such a manner? Are you trying to sell to me, movie, that Elvis was trying to imitate a physically handicapped boy whenever he danced?
The second chance meeting with a rock star comes later in Forrest’s life, in what is easily the silliest and most embarrassing scene in the movie. Forrest is on the Dick Cavett Show, alongside John Lennon, to talk about his trip to China. When Forrest describes some of the things he saw in China, Lennon reacts with a line from his famous song, “Imagine”, implying that it was Forrest’s description of China that inspired Lennon to write this song. The way this is conveyed is absolutely ridiculous; we never see Lennon contemplate what he’s saying, he just blurts out, through poorly edited mouth movements, a random line from his song. Not only is the scene unnecessary and implausible, it insults the great songwriter Lennon by making him look like a buffoon who put trivial lyrics into his songs.
Now let’s talk about Forrest, obviously the most important part about this film. You may think, from this and my Larry Crowne review, that I am hating on Tom Hanks, and I’m not. I have nothing against the actor. While I don’t think Forrest Gump is the best role in Hanks’ career, he did make the character very likable and interesting. The studio was fortunate to have Hanks, too, since he demanded that the film had to be more historically accurate before he agreed to take the role (So, Forrest Gump is supposed to be historically accurate now? Elvis really learned how to dance from a cripple?) Forrest, however, is one of the aspects of this movie that I dislike the most, and it has more to do with the way his character is written than with anything else. Allow me to explain.
So one of the core themes of Forrest Gump is that, despite his intellectual limitations, Forrest had lived a very fulfilling life. It can be seen as an inspirational tale for some, along the lines of the 1989 film, My Left Foot. In the film, Christy Brown is an Irishman who, despite being born with cerebral palsy, grows up to become an intellectual artist/writer. Before doing so, Christy had to face ridicule from his family and peers, be forced into therapeutic education that took away from his everyday life, and suffer through heartbreak as girls he fell in love with refuse to accept him as a lover. Christy had to go through many trials and tribulations in his life, dealing with his severe physical handicap, and what comes out of it is an inspirational tale of success and acceptance.
Now compare this to Forrest Gump, who never really worked hard to achieve anything. He did get out of his leg braces and later become a great runner, but he never trained to do this; he merely discovered his natural ability after a group of bullies started chasing him. He did become an international ping-pong champion, but this again was natural talent that was accidentally discovered. I guess he worked hard in starting his shrimp company, but he only achieved success when a chance storm literally sunk all his competition. There has never been any sort of drama as Forrest accomplishes these great feats, and he never really seems to be interested in his triumphs. He just takes them as he comes. When a character is simply handed every trophy that he can get without really working for it, his story becomes less inspirational and more fantastical and, dare I say, hokey.
It seems like everything that Forrest touches turns to historic gold. He always ends up being in the right place at the right time. Forrest effortlessly accomplishes so much, you are bound to lose track of all the great things that happened in his life, so here’s a partial list. Forrest:
· Meets Elvis Presley before his stardom and influences his gyrating dance style
· Breaks out of his leg braces and becomes the star running back for the University of Alabama
· Participates in George Wallace’s segregation stand-in at the University of Alabama
· Earns a Medal of Honor for saving 6 people’s lives in Vietnam
· Plays for the U.S. Army ping pong team and travels across China
· Speaks publicly at a huge peace rally by the Washington Monument alongside Abbie Hoffman
· Meets John Lennon and inspires him to write “Imagine”
· Meets THREE different presidents
· Accidentally uncovers the Watergate Scandal
· Gets on the cover of Fortune magazine through his shrimping business
· Becomes obscenely rich after purchasing a significant amount of stocks in the young Apple Computers
· Makes national news with his 3-year-long coast-to-coast running spree
· Inadvertently teaches Michael Jackson how to moonwalk after slipping on a banana peel
· Accidentally discovers the Holy Grail in the back of his sock drawer
These are all amazing things that happened in Forrest’s life (except for the last two, obviously). Any one of these moments could have been used as the defining moment for a character in any other inspirational film, yet Forrest Gump hogs them all. It is even more ridiculous in the novel version, as he becomes an astronaut, a chess player, and even a freakin’ professional wrestler! (Not kidding) A character doesn’t have to be God in order for him to live a successful, inspirational life. It’s just so out of control here!
And yet, despite everything that I just complained about, I am still recommending this movie. I do this because even though I personally do not like Forrest Gump, I have to admit that it is a great, solidly made film that really tugs on the heartstrings of the viewer. The movie is at its best when it focuses on Forrest’s relationship with Jenny and other characters rather than on his golden road to success. If you can somehow manage to get over the ridiculously idiotic moments of this film, I’m sure you will find Forrest Gump to be an emotionally engaging film with nice, subtle special effects to look out for. Just keep in mind, as the old saying goes, that “stupid is as stupid does.” And since this film does some stupid crap…well…I’ll let you draw that conclusion.
Rating: 3 Stars
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Running time: 141 minutes
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