Movie Review: Forrest Gump
Introduction
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
“Forrest Gump” is a classic 1994 film directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks. The movie follows Forrest Gump, a kind-hearted man with a low IQ who unintentionally influences key historical events in the United States.
Besides being an emotionally touching story, this film is also a great resource for English learners! It contains many useful idioms, slang, and sentence structures, making it an ideal choice for improving listening and comprehension skills.
Plot Summary
Forrest’s Childhood – Overcomes physical disabilities with leg braces.
Football Star – Earns a college scholarship by running fast.
Vietnam War – Becomes a war hero and meets his best friend, Bubba.
Shrimp Business – Fulfills Bubba’s dream and becomes rich.
Jenny’s Story – A heartbreaking love story intertwined with his journey.
Forrest experiences some of the most important events in American history, all while staying true to his kind and simple nature.
Key English Learning Points
1. Idioms & Slang in the Movie
“Forrest Gump” is filled with common American idioms and expressions. Here are some highlights:
🔹 “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.”
Meaning: Life is full of surprises.
“gonna” is a casual way to say “going to”, common in spoken English.
🔹 “Stupid is as stupid does.”
Meaning: Intelligence is shown through actions, not words.
Structure Tip: Repeating words in an unusual way can emphasize meaning.
🔹 “Run, Forrest, run!”
This phrase became a pop culture reference, often used humorously to encourage someone to move faster.
2. Useful Sentence Structures
The movie is a great source of real-life English sentence patterns:
First-Person Narrative
“My mama always said, ‘Life was like a box of chocolates.’”
Why it’s useful?
This is an example of a past habit (“always said”) and reported speech.
Past Tense Usage
“I was running.” / “I had been running for three years.”
Why it’s useful?
It demonstrates the difference between past continuous (“was running”) and past perfect continuous (“had been running”).
Conditional Sentences
“If I’d known that was the last time I was going to talk to Bubba, I would’ve said something better.”
Why it’s useful?
A great example of a third conditional sentence (if + past perfect, would have + past participle).
American Culture & History in the Film
One of the fascinating aspects of “Forrest Gump” is its connection to real historical events. Watching the movie can improve your understanding of American culture while improving your English skills.
Historical References in the Movie
Vietnam War – Forrest becomes a soldier and saves his friend Bubba.
Civil Rights Movement – Forrest unknowingly influences major events.
Watergate Scandal – He accidentally uncovers the scandal.
1980s Tech Boom – Forrest invests in “some fruit company” (Apple 🍏).
Tips for Learning English with Forrest Gump
Step 1 – Watch with English subtitles to catch new words.
Step 2 – Take notes on interesting phrases.
Step 3 – Repeat key dialogues to improve pronunciation.
Step 4 – Rewatch key scenes without subtitles to test comprehension.
Final Thoughts
“Forrest Gump” is more than just a movie—it’s a life lesson and a fantastic English learning tool. The slow and clear dialogue, combined with iconic quotes, makes it perfect for English learners.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely! Whether you’re learning English or just looking for an inspiring story, this film is a must-watch!
