Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

            Six time Academy Award winner, Forrest Gump, is one of the most dynamic movies of the 90s. Tom Hanks stars as a very unique young man, named Forrest Gump, who tries to find an identity in this big, bad world. The story is told by the character himself, as he sits on a bench at a bus stop. As people come and go to wait for the bus they listen to his past adventures. The movie is screen written in the cinematic form, where the story is told through a series of flashbacks. The audience is drawn in by Forrest’s experiences of rejection, friendship, loss, war, success, and most importantly, love. Through Forrest Gump’s stories on the bus bench, he exemplifies truly how “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.”

Possibly one of the most famous quotes from any movie in history, "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get,” is a recurring theme in Forrest Gump, and it is also a line said to Forrest by his mother. Throughout the life of Forrest Gump, as told by the character himself, he experiences a plentiful and rewarding life; he does this by joining the United States Army during the time of the Vietnam War, by becoming successful through a shrimping company, by making many new friends, and by falling in love with his childhood sweetheart. The reason Forrest’s story is so dynamic is because it is the story of an ordinary man, a man who nobody would generally pay any attention. However, Forrest is anything but ordinary, and nobody knew until they took the time to listen to him. The characters who stop by to listen to Forrest’s stories on the bus bench did not expect to meet an extraordinary man that day.

            As viewers watch Forrest’s adventures through life, it is truly like a box of assorted chocolates, where every new turn is a new surprise. This theme in the film opens the minds of viewers to the fact that every turn in life has a new and unexpected outcome, and like Forrest, all that can be done is embrace it all. The effectiveness of this theme is very strong throughout the movie, as Tom Hanks fully takes the character of a special man trying to find his way in life. Also, the historically accurate time periods in the film, such as the Vietnam war and the 1970s decade of drugs, sex and rock n’ roll, make the film very realistic and effective in portraying the theme.

            Forrest Gump, a movie with a very powerful message, is truly dynamic not only because of its excellent screen play, but also because of the relatable message to all audiences. The main theme of the film, “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get,” is successfully portrayed through a man’s life and adventures through rejection, war, loss, and love. The message that life is always changing, but must be embraced, is a message to which all audiences can relate. This film is a classic that will never get old and appeals to all audiences.