I can see why people might dislike this film, but...

Rating: 9/10 (20 March 2001)

... I gotta say, I love it! Whether you agree with me will probably depend on whether the whimsical tone of the film is likely to make you want to smile or puke. As I said, I'm in the former camp, but I can well understand anybody who disagrees. This film is certainly a devisive topic amongst my friends and I, faintly dodgy politics and all (more on that later...)
Before I offer my critique of the film, I just wanna touch on two issues that are vaguely related. Firstly, the IMDB lists "The Deer Hunter" as a recommendation to those who like this movie. What?? Let me assure you, two more movies that are so totally different as these pair would be hard to find. There is a VERY tenuous possible link with Vietnam, but aside from that we're dealin' with chalk and cheese. I recommend cinema and/or De Niro buffs check out "TDH" for completist sakes, because it's good, but IMHO vastly over-rated (I know people will say the same about "Forrest Gump"!). Anyhow, the tone of the two films is completely different, so in my estimation a slight error within the IMDB there...
Secondly, I know people complain because there was a crop of other good movies to get a Best Picture nod in '94, and "Gump" beat them to it. Most - if not all - of the films nominated that year would have been deserving winners. It just so happened that the Academy plumped for Gump (sorry about the excruciating rhyme...) This does not devalue Forrest Gump against the more dramatic pictures any more then it reflects badly on the runners up. It was just a very good period for film, and all us cinema fans should be thankful for that...
Now that I've got that off my chest, back to the film in question. I feel that Hanks' performance stays just on the right side of cloying sentimentality, always threatening to tip over the edge, but never quite doing so. This must be testament to Hanks skill as an actor, as with many other actors in the role the character could have become fiercely irritating during the lengthly running time. Again, I'm well aware of the arguments that say the character was annoying from the START, but I never felt that to be the case.
An able supporting cast serve to back up Hanks, and there is a wonderful turn from Gary Sinise as "Lt Dan Taylor". His character ALMOST threatens to inject some edge into the character's ultra-PC universe, but maybe that reflects the fact that the other characters are so wholesome rather than that he is nasty.
(SPOILERS)
It's a fun jaunt through some 40 years (I think...) of history, refreshingly not confined entirely to American culture. John Lennon makes an 'appearance' at one stage (You could argue that he represents 'cross-culture', but I'm claiming him as one of our own, even though I'm not a Scouser but a Manc). To those who think part of the fun in watching a movie is predicting events, this one won't provide you with much of a challenge. I recommend sitting back and allowing yourself to be drawn into the movie universe.
As other users have pointed out before me, the film can possibly be seen as having a 'reactionary' viewpoint. Having the main female character die of AIDS as a consequence of her earlier hedonist actions seems depressingly intolerant if it was intended to convey some sort of message to the audience. I have no idea if events in the book are the same. For those of you looking for deep subtextual material, it's certainly a juicy bone of contention, but the film can be enjoyed just as well on a purely simplistic level. I don't think the political bias is strong enough to ruin the film. As for my view on whether any such connotation was deliberate, let's just say it wouldn't surprise me...
(SPOILER END)
To close, many of my friends voice much the same objections about the film that I have seen on this site. If the potential for nostalgia combined with goofy fantasy doesn't sound like it will be your thing, then by all means avoid. If, however, the concoction I have described sounds suited to your tastes, then enjoy; because I guarantee you won't find many better examples of this type of thing around.