Forrest Gump (1994, directed by Robert Zemeckis) is a wonderful movie. I spent the entire rest of my day saying to people, “Hey, have you seen Forrest Gump? It’s sooo good!” I really just loved it and I really have no idea why the critics disliked it so much.
The protagonist Forrest Gump, played by Tom Hanks, is quite possibly the most adorable and endearing movie character ever. He is so sweet, and always has the best intentions, even when he is wronged. This is probably largely due to his upbringing with his mother, played by Sally Fields. She is a lovely, supportive woman who does everything she can to ensure that her dear son grows up to have a great life and be a good, honest person. She is featured all throughout the movie, shown in her different life stages, and her relationship with Forrest is always touching. This is a part of the movie I really appreciated – it was nice to see a son really appreciate and respect his mother without fail throughout his entire life.
Forrest Gump is also a really funny movie – I laughed out loud many times while watching. The basic plot is just comical; it’s a person who participates in and affects an outstanding number of important historical events without even realizing it. He has met and influenced so many incredible people in his lifetime and is oblivious for the most part. The storylines are funny because they are so ridiculous and unrealistic, but heartwarming at the same time. It’s nice to see someone so unpretentious and unaffected by a society that can be so greedy and uncaring.
Another aspect of Forrest Gump that I really appreciate is the soundtrack. The film features an incredible array of music, mostly hits from the 1960’s and 70’s. It’s a great sampling of some of the absolute best music to come out that time period in my opinion, and could expose new generations to music that they otherwise may not hear. However, it didn’t just feel like the music was put in randomly because it’s so popular. I thought that the spots the makers chose for the songs were very fitting and effective. For example, the song ‘Volunteers’ by Jefferson Airplane is perfect for the anti-Vietnam war rally scene. The song is all about young Americans starting a revolution and totally captures the feelings of those in the rally. I felt that the song made the scene incredibly effective and like a real scene from history.
To conclude, Forrest Gump is a film that I highly recommend. It is appropriate for most age groups – I’d say 13 and up, due to some sexual and drug references. I think it’s a great movie for teens to watch with their parents, as many parents of that age have lived through the events referenced in the film, and could explain and reminisce to their children. It is funny, touching and features great music – all in all a real winner.
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