Netflix Recommendation: "Forrest Gump"

Forrest Gump

5 out of 5 stars

Family appropriateness rating: 2.75 out of 5 stars
Rated PG-13
-Mild violence including one war-time blood splatter.
-Moderate sexual content including one scene where a woman has a man touch her naked breast (shot from the back, a little bit of her breast can be seen when she takes off her bra).
-Partial backside female nudity.
-Moderate amount of language including one use of the f-word and another use of it partially cut off.






"Forrest Gump" is so inspirational that I wish it were based on a true story.

Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump in an Academy Award winning performance. He is a man with some kind of mental condition sitting on a bench waiting for a bus. Most of the movie is set in that location as he tells other people his life's story.

The film spans a lot of years, a big chunk being in the 1960s. He does not seem to fully comprehend just how much is going on both socially and politically during that era, but it does not really matter. His ignorance, combined with his excellent work ethic assure him success in quite a few things including the military, the shrimping industry and even ping pong.

Though a lot of focus is spent on the success that seems to come naturally to him, it is mostly about how he touches the lives of several people including his childhood friend, Jenny (Robin Wright) and his military friends, Bubba (Mykelti Williamson) and Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise).

Every single one of these characters are well-developed, especially Jenny and Lieutenant Dan, who have definite definite character arcs. Even though Jenny is not in every scene, most of the film is about how she copes with her abusive childhood. She becomes a hippie, uses illegal drugs and gets into abusive relationships. Though she knows she could do much better with Forrest, she does not feel she deserves him.

Lieutenant Dan is a man who falls from grace after the Vietnam War. Despite his rudeness towards Forrest, the title character helps him become a better, more successful man. There is a religious message with Dan's story that is spiritual without being overly preachy.

Gump himself even has a character arc. Though he is very slow, he learns a lot through his experiences. His childhood is spent with his mother, who knows what his limitations are but believes he can do anything with his life. Her wisdom guides him in everything he does, and his experiences solidify what she teaches him.

Every scene is very entertaining. There is a lot of comedy that comes from both Forrest's innocent view of the world and his surprisingly sharp wit. However, this film also contains a lot of heart. The characters are so real, that it is easy to identify with them. One scene in particular made me cry.

"Forrest Gump" is currently streaming on Netflix. Whether or not you have seen it, it is definitely one to watch before it is taken off of the website.