Reviewed by: John Dickerson
CONTRIBUTOR
Moral Rating: | Offensive |
Moviemaking Quality: |
|
Primary Audience: | • Adults • Teens |
Genre: | Romance Comedy War Drama |
Length: | 2 hr. 22 min. |
Year of Release: | 1994 |
USA Release: |
July 6, 1994 (wide) |
What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer
War in the Bible
What is the Biblical perspective on war? Answer
Death in the Bible
DEPRESSION—Are there biblical examples of depression and how to deal with it? Answer
What should a Christian do if overwhelmed with depression? Answer
What are the consequences of racial prejudice and false beliefs about the origin of races? Answer
Where did cancer come from? Answer
How did bad things come about? Answer
Why does God allow innocent people to suffer? Answer
What about the issue of suffering? Doesn’t this prove that there is no God and that we are on our own? Answer
Does God feel our pain? Answer
What kind of world would you create? Answer
SUICIDE—What does the Bible say? Answer
If a Christian commits suicide, will they go to Heaven? Answer
Featuring |
Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) Sally Field (Mrs. Gump) Robin Wright Penn (Jenny Curran) Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan Taylor) Mykelti Williamson (Pvt. Benjamin Buford “Bubba” Blue) Kurt Russell … Elvis Presley (voice) Rebecca Williams Michael Conner Humphreys Harold Herthum George Kelly See all » |
Director |
Robert Zemeckis |
Producer |
Paramount Pictures Wendy Finerman See all » |
Distributor |
Paramount Pictures Corporation, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS |
“Life is like a box of chocolates… you never know what you’re gonna get.”
Using the “foolish things of the world to confound the wise” and having a “child-like” faith are two of the many Biblical themes woven into this remarkable, Oscar-winning story of a simple, unassuming man who somehow finds himself at the center of just about every major historical event from the 1950s to the early ’80s.
Played by Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump is a man of limited IQ but seemingly unlimited love and devotion, especially for his lifelong sweetheart, Jenny (Robin Wright). Gump’s innocence and humility are constantly contrasted with Jenny’s destructive search for love and fulfillment in all the wrong places. Special effects used to re-create various period scenes are outstanding, but serve to simply enhance rather than overwhelm the central story of an unusually moral man in the midst of an often immoral, chaotic and hypocritical society.
Though not clearly defined, mention is made of “receiving Jesus,” with Gump expressing confidence that he was indeed going to heaven in response to his embittered Vietnam commander’s railings against the Almighty. Other positive images include Gump’s color-blind involvement with an otherwise all-black church (as well as his black best friend from the Army), showing obedience and honor to his loving “mama” (Sally Field) and other authority figures, sacrificial giving, and completion of any task “heartily as unto the Lord” (from non-stop running for his life and then to save others to becoming a world champion in ping pong).
Unfortunately, the graphic portrayal of the fallen world around Gump makes this film off limits for children’s tender hearts. While not glorified, sin is strongly depicted in the form of profanities (especially taking the Lord’s name in vain), premarital sex (partial nudity), violence (namely, the effects of war) and illicit drug use. Although Gump steadfastly resists the temptations of other women and various worldly vices, his intimacy with Jenny prior to marriage is regretfully condoned.
For mature Christians, “Forrest Gump” can serve as a challenging reminder of the blessings and opportunities that flow from simply wanting to do the right thing without seeking gain or personal glory.
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
Charity Temple, age 16