As this year heralds the 30th anniversary of the much-loved film Forrest Gump, we can’t help but reminisce about the box of chocolates that is life, so eloquently depicted in this timeless cinematic gem. Showered with six Oscars, including the trifecta of Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Director, Robert Zemeckis’ 1994 masterpiece threaded the tale of a sweet but simple-minded everyman, portrayed to perfection by Tom Hanks.
Yet, beneath the accolades and the movie’s warm blanket of nostalgia, there is a tale of a different tune. Winston Groom, the original author of the Forrest Gump novel, cast a less-than-enchanted eye on the adaptation that strayed from his unique vision, a vision that the film had, perhaps, dimmed.
But this is not all. The film earned some contrasting opinions, including those from Groom and other critics, like Taylor Sheridan.
Why Winston Groom Disliked the Film Adaptation of Forrest Gump
Have you ever watched a movie that left you with a bitter taste in your mouth despite its popularity and critical acclaim? Well, that seems to be the case for Winston Groom, the author of the novel Forrest Gump, which was later adapted into the iconic film starring Tom Hanks.
Groom’s journey with the Hollywood adaptation of his beloved novel was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. From production hell to disagreements with executives, it seemed like every step of the way was fraught with challenges and frustrations. He recalled (via Blue and Gray Education Society):
Our deal was originally with Warner Brothers, but they turned it over to Paramount. I wrote a lot of scripts. Part of the problem was that Gump was 6’6 and 240 pounds in the novel. They couldn’t find an actor big enough to play him. So they told me to rewrite him.
But perhaps the biggest thorn in Groom’s side was the changes made to his original vision in the film adaptation. From alterations to the character of Forrest Gump himself to the famous line “Life is like a box of chocolates” being different from his original choice, “Being an idiot is no box of chocolates”, it’s no wonder that Groom was left feeling disillusioned.
In The Telegraph interview, Groom argued against this change, stating:
Why the hell didn’t they use my line? Why are they using this line? Well, what do I know? Everywhere I go, people send me chocolates. I hate chocolates!
Even though it annoyed him, he acknowledged that the screenwriters had hit upon something, as the changes quickly gained traction among fans:
It’s on everybody’s tongue, the box of chocolates business.
While it’s understandable that changes need to be made to adapt a novel into a screenplay, it’s clear that for Groom, some of these changes were just too much to bear. However, he was not the only one who detested Forest Gump; Taylor Sheridan was not exactly a fan of this beloved Paramount Pictures film.
Decoding Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan’s Disdain for Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump has captured the hearts of many but has also stirred up some debate among the creative minds of the industry. Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the hit series Yellowstone, is one such individual who has not shied away from expressing his disdain for the popular Tom Hanks flick.
During a candid interview with Joe Rogan, Sheridan didn’t hold back in sharing his thoughts on Forrest Gump, likening the titular character to a “doddering f**king idiot”. He added:
For me, the holy grail as a storyteller is to entertain, educate, and enlighten. Don’t give anybody answers, just lots of questions to think about – that’s my job. Because I can’t stand to pay money to have someone preach to me their ideas. That’s the reason I hated Forrest Gump.
As a storyteller himself, Sheridan holds his work in high regard, believing that the true mark of a great film or TV show is its ability to entertain, educate, and enlighten the audience without spoon-feeding them answers. In his eyes, Forrest Gump falls short in this regard, presenting a narrative where one man’s journey is elevated to mythical proportions, with everyone else merely playing supporting roles in his grand adventure.
While Forrest Gump may have garnered critical acclaim and box office success (see Box Office Mojo), Sheridan remains steadfast in his belief that the film missed the mark in terms of providing thought-provoking content.
You can catch Forrest Gump on Amazon Prime Video.
