Based on Winston Groom's satirical novel, Robert Zemeckis's film about a semi-retarded boy-man who experiences the 1950s through the 1980s gives considerable support to the infantilizing effect of '90s Hollywood. That is to say, critics, reviewers and moviegoers alike have long complained about the lack of quality in American movies seemingly willing to offer explosions, graphic violence and sex play at the expense of compelling characters and complex plots. With fewer and fewer original movies to choose from each year this infantilizing effect forces audiences to try enjoying entertainment that attempts neither to uplift nor provoke as much as such entertainment seeks simply to earn money above all other pursuits, artistry included.

One response to such criticism is to manufacture general entertainment lacking any sort of artistic originality yet targeted to cash in on products aimed squarely at a vast and monolithic audience of old fashioned values that don't really exist. Another response is to seduce moviegoers with timeless lessons about human innocence transplanted into new stories and circumstances with mind-blowing effects and sensational production value.

The latter of these two responses is exactly what the filmmakers of Forrest Gump adopted in producing their two and a half hour long epic about dim-witted purity in the face of unbelievably complex historical circumstances. That the resulting movie is so overwhelming pleasant and impressive is an indication of just how well made the finished film actually is. That such schmaltz and emotional dishonesty ran unchecked as one of moviedom's biggest box office hits and award winners only hints at the public's willingness to critically disregard what it's sold as good entertainment.

More remarkably still, 1994 was a relatively strong year for Oscar-nominated films, each of which worked through the issue of simplistic product to different ends. Nominated against Four Weddings and a Funeral, Pulp Fiction, Quiz Show and The Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump emerged the Academy Award winner as much because of its truly epic historical scale as to its impressive technical merits.

Despite its innovations and obvious Oscar-caliber components, any of the Best Picture nominees would have been a likable winner. At least one of them, Pulp Fiction, also demonstrated true originality in its characterizations and plot although with a far more nihilistic bent.

There were also a number of non-nominated movies showing American theaters and winning over audiences in 1994. Among them were the likes of Bullets Over Broadway, Hoop Dreams, Red and Ed Wood that easily could have been nominated in any other year without complaint from the cognoscenti or movie going public. Still, Forrest Gump was the Oscar winner.

Made for some $55 million it went on to earn several hundred million dollars in international box office. Along the way it inspired endless appropriations of the tag line "Gump Happens", not least of which was Dumb and Dumber with its movie poster stating "Dumb Happens." Zemeckis's movie also led nearly the entire movie culture to gather behind his cultural juggernaut like few other titles in movie history.

What, then, is this almost unassailable theme flowing through Forrest Gump that results in it being celebrated as widely as it is?

My short answer is I don't know. My long answer is a longstanding beef with the movie stemming from the fact of how well manipulated I felt immediately after watching it even while distrusting its willy-nilly slice of American history.

Simply put I do not accept that a semi-retarded man is our culture's highest moral authority and our most praise-worthy hero. Especially when considering his fictional life that has him influencing the birth of rock and roll, the Gulf of Mexico's maritime economy, the popularization of physical fitness and, not least of all, his being envisioned as a man with a pure heart and innocent regard for the wonders of the world.

I simply don't jive with these ideas because they serve to take away my belief in individual will. Forrest Gump lives his life like the breeze-pushed feather of the film's remarkable opening sequence and despite the filmmaker's considerable efforts to enslave me to his charms, Forrest cannot be my ideal on-screen hero. Nor can he substantiate my devotion to his fictional adventures because I don't agree with the idea that good luck and optimism are necessary to makes the world a better place.

Of course I acknowledge how seductive these principles are, not least of all since much of modern life is so unpleasant and ugly. Still, the fantasy of Forrest Gump is based on false notions of goodness and plays almost like a series of history lessons about preferred conduct over the last 50 years of American experience.

For example, Forrest (Tom Hanks) is born a poor white boy in the American south with obvious mental disabilities and partially disabled legs. Whenever his limitations are detailed in the eyes of the public, however, his mother (Sally Field) flies to his defense and, at one point, whores herself so young Forrest will be integrated into mainstream life.

Lesson: people with odd differences, even mental disabilities, should be included in public life because they are just like everybody else.

By accident Forrest is later discovered to have a prodigious running talent and is recruited by Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide to return punts and kick-offs. With his graduation looming Forrest then enlists in the army to serve his country in Vietnam because he meets a particularly good recruitment officer on his college campus.

Lesson: chance encounters are the meat of life's little instruction book because they can lead to refined education and big adventures.

While in Vietnam Forrest meets another simpleton in the form of Bubba Bufford-Blue (Mykelti Williamson). The two form a lasting bond although Forrest's friendship with his commanding officer, Lieutenant Dan (Gary Sinise), proves the bridge upon which the movie returns its focus to the turbulent 1960s and '70s. During this transition from the military to civilian life Forrest recovers from a wound, becomes a world-renown ping-pong player and Dan struggles to find a sense of purpose as a wartime double amputee.

Lesson: war is hell where innocent men die (after all, Bubba doesn't make it) but for simple people there's always plenty to do and new opportunities around every corner.

As Forrest returns home he endeavors to become a shrimp fisherman and accidentally becomes the sole beneficiary of hurricane activity that wipes out his competition. With Dan's assistance he sets up a fantastically successful shrimping franchise, Bubba Gump's, and re-discovers his abiding interest in running, this time as a cross-country enthusiast that brings him even more recognition.

Lesson: business success comes from accidents, natural catastrophes and faith in friends.

Finally, though, the movie is devoted to Forrest's on-going romance with his unrequited childhood sweetheart Jenny (Robin Wright). In her eyes he finds himself wholly fulfilled yet her wanderlust and troubled upbringing leave her forever unable to commit to his prince charming even as events of the 1960s, '70s and '80s unfold around them. Thus their convoluted and nearly non-sexual romance sees them abut student protests, the Black Panther party, anti-war demonstrations, disco, cocaine chic and the infection of unmentionable social diseases like AIDS that finally separate them when she dies.

Lesson: it's better to observe social change without being able to recognize the implications (i.e. Forrest) than it is to act as part of the changing times (i.e. Jenny).

Through its length Forrest Gump runs the themes of innocence, devotion and purity into the ground of digital effects and extraordinary production value. At no point is there any depth developed regarding the various socio-historically important experience Forrest bumps into except to showcase his logic about life being a place where, "you never know what you're gonna get."

It's a fine motto for movie characters but in the movie's popular celebration it seems like its message resonated very deeply with the public, so much so its almost as if dim-wittedness became an idealized trait. Alarmingly the implications of such influence are that (a) Tom Hanks is a terrific actor (and he is, just see Cast Away), (b) movie audiences have been groomed from years of childish movies to accept any movie willing to offer a morally uplifting theme even while short-shrifting historical events (i.e. Bubba is the only black character in the film although there is considerable focus on black society's relationship to the mainstream and he's rendered dumber than Forrest along with protruding lips as if to affirm white stereotypes about black men), (c) random actions in the face of individual initiative are more important than careful planning and organization, or (d) all of the above.

The visual and audio effects of the movie are amazing and they do create the "ooooh" and "aaaah" factor for the film. So too do the many calculated comic moments and emotionally striking eruptions that punctuate Forrest's journey into the heart of America.

In the end, though, Forrest Gump is not nearly so complex a movie as it might seem. Without all its wonderful special effects, sweeping score, supporting actors and attention to period detail, it is the story of one white man succeeding despite every obstacle that should have justifiably limited him save for his lack of basic intelligence.

With a big heart and down-home witticisms galore, Forrest's main strength is in not knowing any better and that's the film's primary legacy.