The character Forrest (played by Tom Hanks) may not be the most intelligent person, but he possesses a genuinely kind heart and an exceptional sense of what’s right. These positive qualities stem from his upbringing with his mother (Sally Field), which has seen him evolve from a young boy in Alabama who discovers he can run surprisingly fast, into something resembling a national hero. The story unfolds as he recounts events to a nurse initially uninterested in his tale, and then to other travelers who learn about his military draft notice for Vietnam. It's there that he forms a friendship with "Lt. Dan" (Gary Sinese) and "Bubba" (Mykelti Williamson), where his inherent moral compass saves lives, earns him widespread praise—and gets him on television. His time in the army proved valuable, but perhaps most useful was learning to play table tennis. He soon joins the American ping-pong team in China, securing an endorsement that allows him to reconnect with "Lt. Dan," who is now paraplegic and disillusioned, and start a lucrative shrimp fishing business before returning home to confront some fairly foreseeable family difficulties. Throughout it all runs a thread of longing for his first love, “Jenny” (Robin Wright). They’ve been friends since childhood, but she has an unsettled nature, and while her feelings were reciprocated, they didn't quite meet his needs. Could there be a future for them? Robert Zemeckis uses a timeline of events in the United States, beginning in the 1950s, to shape the narrative of a man who experienced racial unrest, war, and bullying, ultimately emerging stronger; despite his low IQ, he was capable of outperforming those around him. The clever use of superimposed images placing him within television broadcasts is amusing as he looks on, seemingly bewildered, at an audience that grows increasingly receptive to him. I did find the running scene toward the film’s conclusion a little difficult to accept, but Hanks truly embodies determination and integrity. Eric Roth's adaptation of Winston Groom’s novel provides ample opportunity for philosophical contemplation while also finding humor in both serious and absurd situations. Like life itself, this movie is like a box of chocolates; I didn't necessarily enjoy every piece, but there were many that brought pleasure and prompted reflection.

Source on TMDB