A brilliant showcase of Hollywood’s finest work.
5 out of 5 stars.
I first saw this movie when I was a teenager in the 90s, and it got a lot of re-watches over the years.
It’s got everything: brilliant writing, stunning cinematography, and a feel-good message that says, “Hey, if you play your cards right, you can make it big—even if you were dealt the worst hand imaginable.” Forrest, with his 75 IQ, scoliosis, and social awkwardness, was born into 1950s and 60s Alabama, which wasn’t exactly the best place for someone like him to thrive.
But here’s the kicker—Forrest’s low IQ (and let’s be real, probably a few other factors) meant he didn’t even realize how much life was stacked against him. Ignorance really is bliss, and in Forrest’s case, it led him to do things that people without his so-called “disadvantages” could only dream of. College football star? Check. Medal of Honor recipient? Sure. Millionaire? Why not. Running across the country just for the hell of it? Absolutely. Being a good father? Of course.
Meanwhile, his ability to blissfully ignore societal norms kept him immune to the corrupting influences of the world—something poor Jenny couldn’t manage. Despite starting out in a better spot, she spirals downward, dragged down by life until she finally dies, presumably from AIDS. So, what’s the moral of the story? If you just don’t get caught up in the nonsense society throws your way—and let’s face it, if you’re lucky enough to not fully comprehend it—you too can do incredible things, just like Forrest.
Lieutenant Dan: “Have you found Jesus yet, Gump?” Forrest: “I didn’t know I was supposed to be looking for him, sir.”
