FORREST GUMP
A film review by Ted Prigge
Copyright 1997 Ted Prigge
Director: Robert Zemeckis Writer: Eric Roth (based on the book by Winston Groom) Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson, Sally Field
I don't know about you, but I cringe when I hear about the "Feel Good Movie of the Year." Sounds like it plays it safe and tries to do too much, but does guarantee a couple scenes that are so "touching," they'll make you recreate that scene from "Stand by Me." But my big question is what in the goddam hell is Robert Zemeckis doing the "Feel Good Move of the Year." But I guess doing creative black comedies just doesn't cut it in this business; you have to go do "Feel Good" movies to get superficial recognition. Also, he put himself around the top of the cult film-lovers death wish by butting one of the greatest films of all time ("Pulp Fiction") from winning the Best Picture Oscar...AND stealing the direction oscar from Quentin Tarantino. Ironically, this is probably at the bottom of his oeuvre.
"Forrest Gump" steals its idea from a Woody Allen film (a crime in the usual state, just look at "Last Action Hero" which stole from "Purple Rose of Cairo"). This one steals from "Zelig," a brilliant film about non-conformity which played as a perfect documentary with more laughs than a Chris Farley movie (a good amount for a pseudo-documentary). It tells the story of a simple man, a man with a low IQ who goes through life screwing with everyone involuntarily: he tells Kennedy he has to piss; he accidentally discovers the whole Watergate thing; he gets us back in the Ping Pong competition in China; etc, etc, etc. These things are funny. But in between meetings with Dick Cavet, we have to put up with hokey melodrama, like his relationship with the paper-thing female character of Jenny (Robin Wright), who's name is annoyingly uttered each time. If they had maybe made her more of a person OR only spent a bit of time with her a la Mia Farrow in "Zelig," she might have worked. But she's just there to get AIDs and take off her bra for Forrest.
The thing that saves it, other than the acting, is the comic timing by Robert Zemeckis. His comedy is so funny that it saves the film. He goes for surreal comedy, subtle comedy, sight gags, intellectual jokes, etc. But his drama is artificial and disgustingly hokey. The film's laughs come easily, but he tries to shove the sentimentalism in our faces with a goddam plunger. But, people love this. The regular filmgoing population is not used to actually feeling something that's actually real. If you wanna see a funny film that's touching in the real way, see the similar "Sling Blade," similar because it deals with simple protagonists.
Tom Hanks does a great job with his part but it's nothing I would give him an award for. He was so passionate in "Philadelphia" and totally deserved the Oscar for that. But this one's just for popular opinion. And so they can compare him to Spencer Tracey. I would have given it to Travolta or Hawthorne or Freeman before Hanks. Sinise is great as the resident cynic who (sniff) finds love from Forrest and gets over the fact that he's missing two appendages due to a war.
The worst thing is the film goes for brilliance when it really isn't. It's good for some laughs here and there, but the laughs are only worth it if you have a working remote control in your hands with your thumb on the fast forward button so when "JENNY" comes on screen, you can fast-forward (not that Robin Wright is bad, but her character's an omen to whip out those Hefty-brand jumbo-size barfbags). So is this a comedy? A drama? An allegory? Kinda like a mix of the first two, but none of the latter. What would the mesage be? If you're stupid, you have a better life? Better drop out of school.
It's not a horrible film, but it's highly overrated. And why it grossed so much, I don't know. It's "Feel Good" for about 10 minutes. Funny most of the time, even if there aren't any intentional jokes in there. I used to like it, but I guess I matured or immatured, I dunno. It's funny, but not great.
MY RATING (out of 5): **1/2
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