Episode 28.5 - Forrest Gump Review 10/10

Forrest Gump - 1994 - Robert Zemekis

So, it's rare that a film accomplishes the difficult task of “a movie that has everything,” but Forrest Gump pulls this off with such flying colors that I'm almost ashamed that it spent so much time in the box along other chocolates such as My Best Friend's Girl and P. S. I Love You (two day rule! Two day rule!). With memorable characters, memorable lines, a captivating story, plenty of humor, drama, and everything in between (except horror...but I put that in the humor category anyway), I am pleased to say that I have finally experienced this masterpiece of a film.

For those who don't know the premise, think of The Jerk mixed in with Big Fish or Secondhand Lions minus the whole Freakazoid “Duhhhhh, I am Mo-Ron” kinda thing (yeah, I know, crazy references). It's about Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks), who was named after Ku Klux Klan grand wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest as a reminder that “sometimes we all do things that, well, just don't make no sense.” Now I don't know if that is to signify that Forrest's life is one that, if it were had by someone with tighter screws would seem to be complete and utter nonsense, or if it meant that Forrest was an illegitimate child. Whatever, doesn't matter.

Forrest goes through life clinging to a basic set of rules set forth by those who meant more to him than anything. Through the rigorous following of these guidelines he finds himself in situations that seem extravagant to the common man but, because he struggles at understanding and responding to the gravity of the situation he's in, they are merely little segments of his very own episode of “This Is Your Life.” For that, we fall in love with “Forrest, Forrest Gump” because whereas in our minds chasing after a girl all your life, being a football star, going to war, running your own business, and becoming a national hero are all things that would drive our stress levels to the point of utter madness, Forrest just casually strolls through it all with his charmingly oblivious “I don't really see what the de-yal is” swagger. I think in some respects, we kind of wish we could be like him.

Because of this obliviousness, the movie gets the benefit of being able to take any scene and assign it to any emotion it wants to, which tends to be more humorous than anything, even during those moments that would normally change the direction of the modern drama. The death of friends and family aren't crushing blows, but just strides forward in his life. They are not tearjerkers, they are reminders that this is not a bad thing. This is a life thing. Every new scenario isn't a maddening decent into the depths of self-doubt, they are simply God saying it's time to start over and give it another try. Forrest Gump is the culimination of every pointless Hallmark Card and every worthless “cookie-cutter sympathy” comment on Facebook statuses that start with FML, wrapped into a neat little package that expertly conveys the message that “ya know...this crap just might have something to it.” I can't help but admire and respect this film for doing a wonderful job of keeping everything so lighthearted and fun, yet still dramatic and powerful because we DO respond to the gravity of the situation.

Throughout the film, we are met by the love of Forrest's life, Jenny (Robin Wright), who is really the anti-thesis of Forrest. Her emotions get taken to the extreme. She does get driven to the point of utter madness, deals with the crushing blows and the moments of self-doubt. She also accepts Forrest for who he is, which is all Forrest truly wants. She makes him happy, introduces him to new (ummm...interesting...) experiences, keeps him in check, ensures that the direction he runs off in is one that won't lead off a cliff. In the back of his mind, everything Forrest does, he does for her, and Gump presents it with just the kind of sweetness and pacing that gives us a beautiful romance, as she is the one person that will get him to be aware of his surroundings and act accordingly.

Forrest Gump was powerful and enchanting from beginning to end. Captivating, care-free, and fun, it takes you on a journey through some of history's greatest moments and lets you bask in their glory while standing in the fog of sweet, sweet oblivion. It is impossible to not be drawn into the tale of Forrest Gump, to laugh and be uplifted by his take on life as he goes through moment after moment that we would let consume our lives and invade our memories, but Forrest simply moves onward. Always running, never stopping except for what matters most to him.

With a brand new TV, I don't think there is a better way to christen it then with a spectacular film that takes The BackLOG's second perfect 10/10. God, I loved this movie.