Proof that you can (mostly) make up for a bad script

Rating: 6/10 (26 August 2018)

Oh boy, Forrest Gump. One of many "big films" that permeated the 90s. You know the type; big, historical drama/romance films with epic scale, sets, CGI and all the things that used to make the Academy wet themselves.
Much like so many of these films (Titanic being another example) this is a film that pairs great directing and cinematography...only to completely forget about things like "script" and "characters". You know, the things that make for great, long-lasting films.
Like I said previously, the directing, cinematography and visuals in general are excellent. In fact, they're the star of the show. The problems come from other sources. The script is both weak and melodramatic, barely allowing for actual character-building between each pop culture reference. Not to mention the fact that it's unbearably sappy and pretentious.
The characters...Jesus. Forrest is not endearing. Or funny. Or engaging. He's just frustratingly dumb, showing little character development over the entire movie. Jenny, meanwhile, is a CENSORED. There some interesting characters in the movie (Lieutenant Dan), but all them are relegated to the sidelines in favor of our unlikable protagonists.
The film mostly makes up for this with its incredible VFX and directing. I'll even admit that the story itself is actually good and there's obviously talent behind this thing. But much like James Cameron with you-know-what, Zemeckis' talents are being wasted on this melodramatic script and terrible characters.