It's set from the 1950s to the 1980s in the United States and Vietnam and is loosely based on the 1986 novel by Winston Groom. It follows the life experiences of a man with an IQ of 75 who seems to be on the edges of many major events.

As a child, Forrest Gump (Michael Conner Humphreys/Tom Hanks) has a curved spine and is put into leg braces as a corrective. Unfortunately, his low IQ and braces make him the target of abuse by other children except for the girl that becomes his only friend and life-long love interest, Jenny Curran (Hanna Hall/Robin Wright). Forrest's mother (Sally Field) runs a boarding house and is endlessly supportive of Forrest.

When young Forrest sheds his braces while running away from tormenters, he learns he can run very fast. This ends up getting him a football scholarship and a college degree. He then is drafted and ends up in Vietnam, where his best friend is an African American, Bubba Blue (Mykelti Williamson). He also greatly admires Lieutenant Dan Taylor (Gary Sinise). Bubba sells Forrest on shrimp fishing as a career, and they agree to work together after the war. However, Bubba is killed, and Lieutenant Dan is seriously wounded. Nevertheless, Forrest wins a medal for heroically saving several of his comrades.

Meanwhile, Jenny, who was sexually abused by her father, has gone completely counter-culture. She and Forrest intersect from time to time, but she always disappears back into her world as Forrest keeps brushing greatness as he marches through his life.

What can one say about this unique movie? First, it makes great use of special effects, leading to hilarious scenes like Forrest tipping off the authorities about the Watergate break-in or Forrest showing Lyndon Johnson on national TV the injury to his buttocks that earned Forrest a Purple Heart. Indeed the special effects are what is memorable about the movie. Without them, the movie would never have made the impact it did.

The love story between Forrest and Jenny is melancholy but feelgood in its own way. The relationship between Forrest and Lieutenant Dan is fairly predictable. The humor sprinkled throughout enhances the experience.