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** When Forrest is pushing Lt. Dan across a street after they reunite in New York and a cab almost hits them, Dan shouts "Hey! [[Film/MidnightCowboy Hey! I'm walkin' here!]]"

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** When Forrest is pushing Lt. Dan across a street after they reunite in New York and a cab almost hits them, Dan shouts "Hey! [[Film/MidnightCowboy Hey! I'm walkin' here!]]"here!]]" (Even better, is this scene is accompanied by Music/HarryNilsson's version of "Everybody's Talkin'", the same song from the movie.)
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Forrest's journey takes him from his native Alabama to the jungles of Vietnam, from walking in corrective leg-braces to running across North America, from misunderstood country boy to college football star to champion ping-pong player to shrimp tycoon, without ever quite losing the undying optimism of the era. On the other hand, Jenny's life takes her from a {{Catholic Schoolgirl|sRule}} to being in one of the early issues of ''Magazine/{{Playboy}}'', from a flower child of the '60s to a hippie protester of the '70s. Between her and Forrest, they cover all the significant cultural emblems of that time period, all the while their lives intersect with each other's repeatedly.

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Forrest's journey takes him from his native Alabama to the jungles of Vietnam, from walking in corrective leg-braces to running across North America, from misunderstood country boy to college football star to war hero to champion ping-pong player to shrimp tycoon, without ever quite losing the undying optimism of the era. On the other hand, Jenny's life takes her from a {{Catholic Schoolgirl|sRule}} to being in one of the early issues of ''Magazine/{{Playboy}}'', from a flower child of the '60s to a hippie protester of the '70s. Between her and Forrest, they cover all the significant cultural emblems of that time period, all the while their lives intersect with each other's repeatedly.
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Fixing indentation; removed YMMV


* AsHimself: Both Presidents [[UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy Kennedy]] and [[UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson Johnson]] play themselves posthumously and interact with Forrest [[NotQuiteStarring through the use of archival footage.]] The same technology was also used with UsefulNotes/RichardNixon [[note]]who died less than three months before the movie was released to theaters[[/note]], Alabama Governor George Wallace, and Music/JohnLennon. (This was before easy computer manipulation, so these scenes where Forrest was integrated were a huge special effects triumph at the time.) A more straight version of this occurs in the Lennon scene, where Dick Cavett plays himself, made to look younger through make-up.

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* AsHimself: Both Presidents [[UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy Kennedy]] and [[UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson Johnson]] play themselves posthumously and interact with Forrest [[NotQuiteStarring through the use of archival footage.]] footage]]. The same technology was also used with UsefulNotes/RichardNixon [[note]]who UsefulNotes/RichardNixon[[note]]who died less than three months before the movie was released to theaters[[/note]], Alabama Governor George Wallace, and Music/JohnLennon. (This was before easy computer manipulation, so these scenes where Forrest was integrated were a huge special effects triumph at the time.) A more straight version of this occurs in the Lennon scene, where Dick Cavett plays himself, made to look younger through make-up.



--> '''Bubba:''' My given name is Benjamin Buford Blue, but people call me Bubba. Just like one of them ol' redneck boys. Can you believe that?
--> '''Forrest:''' My name's Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.

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--> '''Bubba:''' --->'''Bubba:''' My given name is Benjamin Buford Blue, but people call me Bubba. Just like one of them ol' redneck boys. Can you believe that?
-->
that?\\
'''Forrest:''' My name's Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.



** "[[AppealToFamilialWisdom Momma always said]] 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.'"

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** "[[AppealToFamilialWisdom Momma always said]] said]], 'Life was like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.'"



** This, though it's [[BlackComedy Black Comedy]] at best, and how silently Forrest sits beside Jenny as she cries after angrily throwing rocks at her father's old house seems to imply he understands a lot more than he did as a child:

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** This, though it's [[BlackComedy Black Comedy]] BlackComedy at best, and how silently Forrest sits beside Jenny as she cries after angrily throwing rocks at her father's old house seems to imply he understands a lot more than he did as a child:



* EpicMovie: The film has an EnsembleCast that includes Creator/TomHanks, Creator/RobinWright, Creator/GarySinise, and Creator/SallyField. It also is set from the 1950s to the 1980s and shows Forest's experiences (and [[BeenThereShapedHistory accidental influence]]) on several major events of American history of the time, such as the start of [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis Presley's]] career, the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement, UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, the [[Main/TheSixties 60s]] counter-culture, the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War & opening relations with Maoist China]], the Watergate scandal, etc. He also meets and interacts with many famous figures from the time period, such as [[{{UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy}} three]] [[{{UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson}} U.S.]] [[{{UsefulNotes/RichardNixon}} Presidents]], George Wallace, legendary college football coach Bear Bryant, Music/JohnLennon, and many others.

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* EpicMovie: The film has an EnsembleCast that includes Creator/TomHanks, Creator/RobinWright, Creator/GarySinise, and Creator/SallyField. It also is set from the 1950s to the 1980s and shows Forest's experiences (and [[BeenThereShapedHistory accidental influence]]) on several major events of American history of the time, such as the start of [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis Presley's]] Music/ElvisPresley's career, the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement, UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, the [[Main/TheSixties 60s]] TheSixties counter-culture, the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War & UsefulNotes/ColdWar and opening relations with Maoist China]], the Watergate scandal, etc. He also meets and interacts with many famous figures from the time period, such as [[{{UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy}} [[UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy three]] [[{{UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson}} [[UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson U.S.]] [[{{UsefulNotes/RichardNixon}} [[UsefulNotes/RichardNixon Presidents]], George Wallace, legendary college football coach Bear Bryant, Music/JohnLennon, and many others.



* HistoricalFiguresInArchivalMedia: Almost all of the historical figures and celebrities appear in the film as footage of themselves. [[note]] With the exception of Dick Cavett, who played himself under deaging makeup. Elvis Presley was played by an uncredited Creator/KurtRussell in the scene where he stays at the Gump house, but the real Elvis does still appear in archival footage once he becomes famous.[[/note]]

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* HistoricalFiguresInArchivalMedia: Almost all of the historical figures and celebrities appear in the film as footage of themselves. [[note]] With [[note]]With the exception of Dick Cavett, who played himself under deaging makeup. Elvis Presley was played by an uncredited Creator/KurtRussell in the scene where he stays at the Gump house, but the real Elvis does still appear in archival footage once he becomes famous.[[/note]]



-->Let me say this: bein' a idiot is no box of chocolates. People laugh, lose patience, treat you shabby. Now they says folks 'sposed to be kind to the afflicted, but let me tell you — it ain’t always that way.

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-->Let me say this: bein' a idiot is no box of chocolates. People laugh, lose patience, treat you shabby. Now they says folks 'sposed to be kind to the afflicted, but let me tell you — it ain’t ain't always that way.



* LukeYouAreMyFather: Forrest [[spoiler:finds out he has a son via Jenny]]. EpilepticTrees say [[spoiler:this might not be the case, but Forrest is the only reliable parent Jenny can find]].

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* LukeYouAreMyFather: Forrest [[spoiler:finds out he has a son via Jenny]]. EpilepticTrees say [[spoiler:this might not be the case, but Forrest is the only reliable parent Jenny can find]]. [[invoked]]



* MentorOccupationalHazard: Lt. Dan tries to be this to a T, as he gives Forrest and Bubba advice on how to survive Vietnam (concluding the mentor part) and then tries to die fighting in the war, believing that it was his [[YouCantFightFate destiny.]] However, he didn't count on Forrest to [[ScrewDestiny defy that.]]
* AMillionIsAStatistic: The storm that destroyed every ship in the harbor [[InferredHolocaust undoubtedly ended or destroyed the lives of dozens of people.]] Gump considered it a good thing because it [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality benefited Forrest's shrimping business.]] And, well, [[CaptainOblivious he didn't really know anything was wrong.]]

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* MentorOccupationalHazard: Lt. Dan tries to be this to a T, as he gives Forrest and Bubba advice on how to survive Vietnam (concluding the mentor part) and then tries to die fighting in the war, believing that it was his [[YouCantFightFate destiny.]] destiny]]. However, he didn't count on Forrest to [[ScrewDestiny defy that.]]
that]].
* AMillionIsAStatistic: The storm that destroyed every ship in the harbor [[InferredHolocaust undoubtedly ended or destroyed the lives of dozens of people.]] people. Gump considered it a good thing because it [[ProtagonistCenteredMorality benefited Forrest's shrimping business.]] business]]. And, well, [[CaptainOblivious he didn't really know anything was wrong.]]wrong]].



--->'''Forrest:''' Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don't go home at all. [[AndThatsTerrible That's a bad thing.]] That's all I have to say about that.

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--->'''Forrest:''' Sometimes when people go to Vietnam, they go home to their mommas without any legs. Sometimes they don't go home at all. [[AndThatsTerrible That's a bad thing.]] thing]]. That's all I have to say about that.



* OnlyAFleshWound: Forrest gets shot in the buttocks in Vietnam and suffers no long-lasting ill effects. In fact, he gets all the ice cream he can eat at the hospital. [[TruthInTelevision Believe it ot not, this is actually about the only part of the body where this can realistically happen]] (thus, why it's called a "million-dollar wound"). It also happens to infantrymen ''a lot'', as one's natural inclination when crawling is to stick your butt in the air. Army training tries to curtail this, but not everyone remembers. This might qualify as a ShoutOut to ''Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront'' which includes a scene during which one of the experienced squad members places a panicked recruit’s helmet over the recruit’s raised buttocks, for this reason. This becomes a DeconstructedTrope when the recruit is last seen having sustained a serious wound there, which the more experienced soldiers regard as certainly crippling and probably fatal; one contemplates MercyKilling but is dissuaded on the grounds that the shelling is over and witnesses are starting to appear.

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* OnlyAFleshWound: Forrest gets shot in the buttocks in Vietnam and suffers no long-lasting ill effects. In fact, he gets all the ice cream he can eat at the hospital. [[TruthInTelevision Believe it ot or not, this is actually about the only part of the body where this can realistically happen]] (thus, why it's called a "million-dollar wound"). It also happens to infantrymen ''a lot'', as one's natural inclination when crawling is to stick your butt in the air. Army training tries to curtail this, but not everyone remembers. This might qualify as a ShoutOut to ''Literature/AllQuietOnTheWesternFront'' which includes a scene during which one of the experienced squad members places a panicked recruit’s recruit's helmet over the recruit’s recruit's raised buttocks, for this reason. This becomes a DeconstructedTrope when the recruit is last seen having sustained a serious wound there, which the more experienced soldiers regard as certainly crippling and probably fatal; one contemplates MercyKilling but is dissuaded on the grounds that the shelling is over and witnesses are starting to appear.



* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: The storm that took out every ship is considered to be a good thing since it allowed Forrest's shrimping business to thrive. [[InferredHolocaust This ignores how many lives the storm would have ruined or possibly ended.]] Though it is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by Forrest's stupidity making him [[AMillionIsAStatistic unable to consider the effects that the storm had on anyone but himself and those close to him]] and further Averted in that Forrest himself doesn’t regard it as good, but simply observes the outcome, while Lt. Dan is too absorbed in his own misfortunes to care about anyone else.
* ProtagonistTitle: Forrest Gump.

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* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: The storm that took out every ship is considered to be a good thing since it allowed Forrest's shrimping business to thrive. [[InferredHolocaust This ignores how many lives the storm would have ruined or possibly ended.]] ended. Though it is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by Forrest's stupidity making him [[AMillionIsAStatistic unable to consider the effects that the storm had on anyone but himself and those close to him]] and further Averted in that Forrest himself doesn’t doesn't regard it as good, but simply observes the outcome, while Lt. Dan is too absorbed in his own misfortunes to care about anyone else.
* ProtagonistTitle: Forrest Gump.''Forrest Gump''.



** Jenny's date of birth ([[spoiler:which can be seen on her tombstone]]) is July 16, 1945, the date of the Trinity test in New Mexico, the world's first successful test of the atomic bomb. [[spoiler:Her date of death, March 22, 1982, is also the date that the Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' launched on its 3rd mission (STS-3)...which landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.]]
** The latter would at first glance seem not so significant within the film's context as [[spoiler:the Columbia disaster happened long after the film's release.]] However, the backup commander for mission STS-3 was Ken Mattingly, who was portrayed by Gary Sinise (Lt.Dan) in ''{{Film/Apollo 13}}'', which also starred Tom Hanks.

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** Jenny's date of birth ([[spoiler:which can be seen on her tombstone]]) is July 16, 1945, the date of the Trinity test in New Mexico, the world's first successful test of the atomic bomb. [[spoiler:Her date of death, March 22, 1982, is also the date that the Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' launched on its 3rd mission (STS-3)... which landed at White Sands Space Harbor in New Mexico.]]
** The latter would at first glance seem not so significant within the film's context as [[spoiler:the Columbia disaster happened long after the film's release.]] However, the backup commander for mission STS-3 was Ken Mattingly, who was portrayed by Gary Sinise (Lt. Dan) in ''{{Film/Apollo 13}}'', which also starred Tom Hanks.



--> '''Bubba''' and '''Forrest''': ''[both raise arms in salute]'' Morning, sir!
-->'''Lt. Dan:''' Whoa, get your hands down! ''Do not'' salute me; there are goddamn snipers all over this area who'd love to grease an officer.
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Played for laughs, no less:

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--> '''Bubba''' and '''Forrest''': -->'''Bubba Forrest:''' ''[both raise arms in salute]'' Morning, sir!
-->'''Lt.
sir!\\
'''Lt.
Dan:''' Whoa, get your hands down! ''Do not'' salute me; there are goddamn snipers all over this area who'd love to grease an officer.
* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Played for laughs, PlayedForLaughs, no less:



* SweetHomeAlabama: The film takes place in Greenbow, Alabama. Also, when Jenny and Forrest are at Forrest's home they are dancing to ''Sweet Home Alabama'' by Music/LynyrdSkynyrd.

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* SweetHomeAlabama: The film takes place in Greenbow, Alabama. Also, when Jenny and Forrest are at Forrest's home they are dancing to ''Sweet "Sweet Home Alabama'' Alabama" by Music/LynyrdSkynyrd.



* TearJerker (in-universe):

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* TearJerker (in-universe):TearJerker: In-universe:



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** Ultimately, life has many twists-&-turns than you nor other ever really sees coming. But it's ''how'' one handles those twists-&-turns that really matters, for better or for worse.

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** Ultimately, life has many twists-&-turns than neither you nor other others ever really sees coming. But it's ''how'' one handles those twists-&-turns that really matters, for better or for worse.
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* HistoricalFiguresInArchivalMedia: Almost all of the historical figures and celebrities appear in the film as footage of themselves. [[note]] With the exception of Dick Cavett.[[/note]]

to:

* HistoricalFiguresInArchivalMedia: Almost all of the historical figures and celebrities appear in the film as footage of themselves. [[note]] With the exception of Dick Cavett.Cavett, who played himself under deaging makeup. Elvis Presley was played by an uncredited Creator/KurtRussell in the scene where he stays at the Gump house, but the real Elvis does still appear in archival footage once he becomes famous.[[/note]]
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* CelebrityCameo: TheFaceless Music/ElvisPresley is played by an uncredited Creator/KurtRussell.
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Groom published a sequel to the original novel, ''Gump & Co.'', in 1995, but due to UsefulNotes/HollywoodAccounting cheating him out of his fair share of royalties from the film's smash success, grossing $660 million on a $55 million budget (Paramount claimed the film was still $62 million out of profit due to marketing, distribution, and interest), refused to license the rights to an adaptation, snarking that "I cannot in good conscience allow money to be wasted on a failure". Producers went ahead with sequel plans anyway, with a draft script by Roth being handed in on September 10, 2001. When 9/11 happened one day later, the film's very [[TheNineties '90s]] approach to referencing and commenting on past events instantly became dated, and all sequel plans were dropped. As a result, ''Forrest Gump'' is one of the most successful films in modern history to never receive a sequel.

There's an Indian adaptation called ''Laal Singh Chaddha'', which was released in South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia on August 11, 2022.

to:

Groom published a sequel to the original novel, ''Gump & Co.'', in 1995, but due to UsefulNotes/HollywoodAccounting cheating him out of his fair share of royalties from the film's smash success, success (Paramount claimed the film, despite grossing $660 million on a $55 million budget (Paramount claimed the film budget, was still $62 million out of profit due to marketing, distribution, and interest), refused to license the rights to an adaptation, snarking that "I cannot in good conscience allow money to be wasted on a failure". Producers went ahead with sequel plans anyway, with a draft script by Roth being handed in on September 10, 2001. When 9/11 happened one day later, the film's very [[TheNineties '90s]] approach to referencing and commenting on past events instantly became dated, and all sequel plans were dropped. As a result, ''Forrest Gump'' is one of the most successful films in modern history to never receive a sequel.

There's an Indian adaptation called ''Laal Singh Chaddha'', made with Paramount's involvement, which was released in South Asia and parts of Southeast Asia on August 11, 2022.
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''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 [[{{EpicMovie}} Epic Historical]] [[{{Dramedy}} Comedy-Drama]] film starring Creator/TomHanks and directed by Creator/RobertZemeckis. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom.

to:

''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 [[{{EpicMovie}} Epic Historical]] [[{{Dramedy}} Comedy-Drama]] film starring Creator/TomHanks and Creator/TomHanks, directed by Creator/RobertZemeckis.Creator/RobertZemeckis, written by Eric Roth, and distributed by Creator/ParamountPictures. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom.



''Forrest Gump'' was nominated for 13 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, winning for Best Picture, Actor (Hanks), Director (Zemeckis), Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth), Editing (Arthur Schmidt), and Visual Effects. It's worth noting that this film, along with ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'', was largely responsible for audiences seeing Hanks as more than just a comedic actor, and led to a long string of critically acclaimed performances in dramas which continues to this day. This genre transition even inspired a trope in its likeness on this site, [[TropeNamer fittingly named]] TomHanksSyndrome.

Groom published a sequel to the original novel, ''Gump & Co.'', in 1995, but due to UsefulNotes/HollywoodAccounting cheating him out of his fair share of royalties from the film's smash success, refused to license the rights to an adaptation, snarking that "I cannot in good conscience allow money to be wasted on a failure". Producers went ahead with sequel plans anyway, with a draft script being handed in on September 10, 2001. When 9/11 happened one day later, the film's very [[TheNineties '90s]] approach to referencing and commenting on past events instantly became dated, and all sequel plans were dropped. As a result, ''Forrest Gump'' is one of the most successful films in modern history to never receive a sequel.

to:

''Forrest Gump'' was nominated for 13 UsefulNotes/{{Academy Award}}s, winning for Best Picture, Actor (Hanks), Director (Zemeckis), Adapted Screenplay (Eric Roth), (Roth), Editing (Arthur Schmidt), and Visual Effects. It's worth noting that this film, along with ''Film/{{Philadelphia}}'', was largely responsible for audiences seeing Hanks as more than just a comedic actor, and led to a long string of critically acclaimed performances in dramas which continues to this day. This genre transition even inspired a trope in its likeness on this site, [[TropeNamer fittingly named]] TomHanksSyndrome.

Groom published a sequel to the original novel, ''Gump & Co.'', in 1995, but due to UsefulNotes/HollywoodAccounting cheating him out of his fair share of royalties from the film's smash success, grossing $660 million on a $55 million budget (Paramount claimed the film was still $62 million out of profit due to marketing, distribution, and interest), refused to license the rights to an adaptation, snarking that "I cannot in good conscience allow money to be wasted on a failure". Producers went ahead with sequel plans anyway, with a draft script by Roth being handed in on September 10, 2001. When 9/11 happened one day later, the film's very [[TheNineties '90s]] approach to referencing and commenting on past events instantly became dated, and all sequel plans were dropped. As a result, ''Forrest Gump'' is one of the most successful films in modern history to never receive a sequel.
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'''Forrest:''' ''[narrating]'' It's funny Lt. Dan said that, 'cause right then, [[HostileWeather God showed up.]]

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'''Forrest:''' ''[narrating]'' It's funny Lt. Dan said that, 'cause right then, [[HostileWeather God showed up.]]up]].


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* UndisclosedFunds: It's not clear how much Forrest and Lt. Dan make from Bubba Gump and their investments, but since Forrest giving the Blue family what would have been Bubba's share of the profits is enough to set them up for life, it's clearly ''a lot''.
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* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: It may take place in a cynical and hostile world, but Forrest's kind-nature, sweet-heart, and belief in the best of humanity, makes this movie incredibly idealistic.

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* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism: It may take place in a cynical and hostile world, but Forrest's kind-nature, sweet-heart, kind nature, sweet heart, and belief in the best of humanity, makes this movie incredibly idealistic.
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* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: The storm that took out every ship is considered to be a good thing since it allowed Forrest's shrimping business to thrive. [[InferredHolocaust This ignores how many lives the storm would have ruined or possibly ended.]] Though it is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by Forrest's stupidity making him [[AMillionIsAStatistic unable to consider the effects that the storm had on anyone but himself and those close to him.]] and further Averted in that Forrest himself doesn’t regard it as good, but simply observes the outcome, while Lt. Dan is too absorbed in his own misfortunes to care about anyone else.

to:

* ProtagonistCenteredMorality: The storm that took out every ship is considered to be a good thing since it allowed Forrest's shrimping business to thrive. [[InferredHolocaust This ignores how many lives the storm would have ruined or possibly ended.]] Though it is [[JustifiedTrope justified]] by Forrest's stupidity making him [[AMillionIsAStatistic unable to consider the effects that the storm had on anyone but himself and those close to him.]] him]] and further Averted in that Forrest himself doesn’t regard it as good, but simply observes the outcome, while Lt. Dan is too absorbed in his own misfortunes to care about anyone else.
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* LiteralMinded: Forrest has no concept of metaphor. For example, while in Vietnam, he thinks that their platoon is looking for "some guy named Charlie" [[note]]"Victor Charlie", or "Charlie" for short, is the phonetic alphabet abbreviation for the Viet Cong[/note]]. Another example occurs when Lt. Dan shows up after Forrest buys his first shrimping boat:

to:

* LiteralMinded: Forrest has no concept of metaphor. For example, while in Vietnam, he thinks that their platoon is looking for "some guy named Charlie" [[note]]"Victor Charlie"[[note]]"Victor Charlie", or "Charlie" for short, is the phonetic alphabet abbreviation for the Viet Cong[/note]].Cong[[/note]]. Another example occurs when Lt. Dan shows up after Forrest buys his first shrimping boat:
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** [[spoiler:When Forrest finds out that he has a son with Jenny, he asks if he's smart or dumb (he can't bring himself to say it, he just places his hand on his chest to indicate himself. Jenny reassures him that Forrest Jr. is one of the smartest in his class.]]

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** [[spoiler:When Forrest finds out that he has a son with Jenny, he asks if he's smart or dumb (he can't bring himself to say it, he just places his hand on his chest to indicate himself.himself). Jenny reassures him that Forrest Jr. is one of the smartest in his class.]]



* LiteralMinded: Forrest has no concept of metaphor. For example, while in Vietnam, he thinks that their platoon is looking for "some guy named Charlie" [[note]] "Victor Charlie", or "Charlie" for short, is the phonetic alphabet abbreviation for the Viet Cong [[/note]]. Another example occurs when Lt. Dan shows up after Forrest buys his first shrimping boat:

to:

* LiteralMinded: Forrest has no concept of metaphor. For example, while in Vietnam, he thinks that their platoon is looking for "some guy named Charlie" [[note]] "Victor [[note]]"Victor Charlie", or "Charlie" for short, is the phonetic alphabet abbreviation for the Viet Cong [[/note]].Cong[/note]]. Another example occurs when Lt. Dan shows up after Forrest buys his first shrimping boat:
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Correcting the quote


** Early in the movie, after beating up the people who tried to grab Jenny on stage, she angrily chews him out and says he "doesn't know what love is" when he says that's why he keeps trying to protect her. Later in the movie when he asks her to marry him and she rather dejectedly says he doesn't truly want to marry her, likely due to shame over the person she's been, he says that he's not a smart man, but "I DO know what love is" before leaving.

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** Early in the movie, after beating up the people who tried to grab Jenny on stage, she angrily chews him out and says he "doesn't know what love is" when he says that's why he keeps trying to protect her. Later in the movie when he asks her to marry him and she rather dejectedly says he doesn't truly want to marry her, likely due to shame over the person she's been, he says that he's not a smart man, but "I DO know "But I ''know'' what love is" before leaving.
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* DrivingADesk: Mostly averted, as Forrest is almost seamlessly integrated into the historical footage, but they did a much better job digitally erasing Creator/GarySinise's legs. In fact, there's only one scene in the ''entire movie'' where the digital erasure of Sinise's legs fails: when he's picking himself up after the party girls leave on New Year's Eve. Watch carefully and you can see Sinise is clearly propping himself up on supposedly nonexistent legs.

to:

* DrivingADesk: Mostly averted, as Forrest is almost seamlessly integrated into the historical footage, but they did a much better job digitally erasing Creator/GarySinise's legs. In fact, there's only one scene in the ''entire movie'' where the digital erasure of Sinise's legs fails: when he's picking himself up after the party girls leave on New Year's Eve. Watch carefully and you can see Sinise is clearly propping himself up on supposedly nonexistent legs.legs (which isn't exactly a failure of the effects; they look good, but you can't change the physical fact of the weight and mass of those legs).
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* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Jenny is suffering from some sort of viral disease, which hasn't been identified, and for which there's no treatment. Even [[invoked]]:WordOfGod can't seem to agree on what the disease is: Winston Groom, the source novel's author, confirms it as hepatitis C in the sequel novel ''Gump and Co.'', but screenwriter Eric Roth identified it as HIV/AIDS in the script for the since-shelved sequel. Both diseases would not be properly identified until later in the 1980s.

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* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Jenny is suffering from some sort of viral disease, which hasn't been identified, and for which there's no treatment. Even [[invoked]]:WordOfGod [[invoked]]WordOfGod can't seem to agree on what the disease is: Winston Groom, the source novel's author, confirms it as hepatitis C in the sequel novel ''Gump and Co.'', but screenwriter Eric Roth identified it as HIV/AIDS in the script for the since-shelved sequel. Both diseases would not be properly identified until later in the 1980s.
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* DaylightHorror: Forrest's platoon was ambushed in broad daylight, immediately after the end of a long rain, no less.
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* CentralTheme: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
** Ultimately, life has many twists-&-turns than you nor other ever really sees coming. But it's ''how'' one handles those twists-&-turns that really matters, for better or for worse.
** Related to above, American Life has drastically changed with every decade after World War II, and nobody really knows how to fit into the times.
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* SpeakingUpForAnother: After Forrest runs into Lt. Dan in D.C., the two spend New Year's Eve with a couple of female friends of Taylor's. They pair off back at the Lt.'s apartment and when Forrest's "date" gets frisky with him, he pushes her away. She starts insulting him and asks, "Are you stupid or somethin'?" Then the other girl joins in, too. Taylor explodes, yelling, "Don't you EVER call him stupid!" and throws both girls out. Forrest realizes that Lt. Dan defended him because, having been called a cripple himself, he knows what it's like to be put down for something he has no control over.
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* BarefootSuicide: Subverted. Jenny absentmindedly slips out of one of her shoes while standing by a bridge, asking if she'd fly if she jumped off. Forrest is a little worried to hear her say that. Later on she actually does try to commit suicide, but one slips off her foot and she ultimately chickens out of jumping.

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* BarefootSuicide: Subverted. Jenny absentmindedly slips out of one of her shoes while standing by a bridge, asking if she'd fly if she jumped off. Forrest is a little worried to hear her say that. Later on she actually does try to commit suicide, but one slips off her foot and she ultimately chickens out of jumping.decides not to jump.

Changed: 595

Removed: 278

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* DisappearedDad: Forrest's father is never seen, and is only mentioned twice when Forrest is a child. His absence is hand-waved immediately.
-->'''Mr. Hancock:''' Is there a Mr. Gump, Mrs. Gump?\\
'''Mrs. Gump:''' He's on vacation.
* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Jenny is suffering from some sort of viral disease, which hasn't been identified, and for which there's no treatment. WordOfGod confirms that it was hepatitis C which wouldn't be correctly identified until 1989.

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* DisappearedDad: Forrest's father is never seen, and is only mentioned twice when Forrest is a child. His absence is hand-waved immediately.
-->'''Mr. Hancock:''' Is there a Mr. Gump, Mrs. Gump?\\
'''Mrs. Gump:''' He's on vacation.
immediately as being "on vacation," which Mama describes as "when you go somewhere and never come back."
* TheDiseaseThatShallNotBeNamed: Jenny is suffering from some sort of viral disease, which hasn't been identified, and for which there's no treatment. WordOfGod Even [[invoked]]:WordOfGod can't seem to agree on what the disease is: Winston Groom, the source novel's author, confirms that it was as hepatitis C which wouldn't in the sequel novel ''Gump and Co.'', but screenwriter Eric Roth identified it as HIV/AIDS in the script for the since-shelved sequel. Both diseases would not be correctly properly identified until 1989.later in the 1980s.
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cross-wicking

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* ProstheticLimbReveal: When formerly wheelchair-bound Lt. Dan shows up, walking, to Forrest and Jenny's wedding, Forrest is astonished. Dan lifts his pants leg to reveal one of his prosthetic legs, saying they're made of a titanium-steel alloy, like is used on the space shuttle.
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* SeenItAll: After a while, Forrest finds it hard to work up enthusiasm for meeting Presidents after meeting virtually each one during his life.

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* SeenItAll: After a while, Forrest finds it hard to work up enthusiasm for meeting Presidents after meeting virtually each one during his life.Nixon, having already met JFK and LBJ on separate occasions.
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* HaveANiceDaySmile: According to the film, Forrest is the originator of the design. He got splashed by mud, wiped his face on a yellow shirt and the person who handed him the shirt saw the design in the negative space left behind by his eyes and mouth.

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* HaveANiceDaySmile: According to the film, Forrest is the originator of the design. He got splashed by mud, wiped his face on a yellow shirt shirt, and the person who handed him the shirt saw the design in the negative space left behind by his eyes and mouth.
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* EpicMovie: The film has an EnsembleCast that includes Creator/TomHanks, Creator/RobinWright, Creator/GarySinise, and Creator/SallyField. It also is set from the 1950s to the 1980s and shows Forest's experiences (and [[BeenThereShapedHistory accidental influence]]) on several major events of American History of the time. Such as: the start of [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis Presley's]] career, the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement, UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, the [[Main/TheSixties 60s]] counter-culture, the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War & opening relations with Maoist China]], the Watergate scandal, etc. He also meets and interacts with many famous figures from the time period, such as [[{{UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy}} three]] [[{{UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson}} U.S.]] [[{{UsefulNotes/RichardNixon}} Presidents]], George Wallace, legendary college football coach Bear Bryant, Music/JohnLennon, and many others.

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* EpicMovie: The film has an EnsembleCast that includes Creator/TomHanks, Creator/RobinWright, Creator/GarySinise, and Creator/SallyField. It also is set from the 1950s to the 1980s and shows Forest's experiences (and [[BeenThereShapedHistory accidental influence]]) on several major events of American History history of the time. Such as: time, such as the start of [[Music/ElvisPresley Elvis Presley's]] career, the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement, UsefulNotes/TheVietnamWar, the [[Main/TheSixties 60s]] counter-culture, the [[UsefulNotes/ColdWar Cold War & opening relations with Maoist China]], the Watergate scandal, etc. He also meets and interacts with many famous figures from the time period, such as [[{{UsefulNotes/JohnFKennedy}} three]] [[{{UsefulNotes/LyndonJohnson}} U.S.]] [[{{UsefulNotes/RichardNixon}} Presidents]], George Wallace, legendary college football coach Bear Bryant, Music/JohnLennon, and many others.



** Jenny also tells Forrest that when he's in Vietnam, if he finds himself in danger, she wants him to run. As it happens, he ends up doing just that...running back and forth carrying wounded soldiers to a river bank during an ambush, earning himself the Medal of Honor.

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** Jenny also tells Forrest that when he's in Vietnam, if he finds himself in danger, she wants him to run. As it happens, he ends up doing just that... running back and forth carrying wounded soldiers to a river bank during an ambush, earning himself the Medal of Honor.

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