Forrest Gump Review: A Warm, Divisive Crowd-Pleaser
8.5/10 — Forrest Gump (1994)
Pros
- Tom Hanks's warm lead
- Inventive use of historical footage
- Memorable soundtrack
Cons
- Sentimental and simplistic
- Underwritten Jenny
Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump, a kind-hearted man with a low IQ who drifts through decades of American history, from Vietnam to Watergate, while pining for his childhood friend Jenny. It won six Oscars including Best Picture.
What works
Hanks gives a warm, committed performance, and the digital effects that place Forrest in historical footage remain impressive. Alan Silvestri’s score and the carefully chosen soundtrack give the film real feeling, and it’s reliably funny and moving.
Where it falters
Its simple message can feel glib, and Jenny’s storyline is thin. The film has been criticised for flattening political complexity into a sentimental fable.
Verdict
A heartfelt, expertly made crowd-pleaser, even if it isn’t as deep as it thinks it is.
