First Reviews For Tom Hanks’ New Film Here Are In, & Critics Agree That The Forest Gump Reunion Movie Isn’t Great

Critical reviews for Tom Hanks’ new movie, Here, have arrived, but they are not so great. Based on the 2014 graphic novel by Richard McGuire, Here tells a story about the multiple generations of couples and families who have lived in the same house spanning centuries. Killers of the Flower Moon screenwriter Eric Roth co-wrote the film with Oscar-winning filmmaker, Robert Zemeckis, who also produced the film. Here stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in lead roles along with Paul Bettany and Kelly Reilly.

The first reviews for Here are in, with critics generally unimpressed with the Forrest Gump reunion. The Daily Beast called the Forrest Gump reunion movie “an embarrassment.” IndieWire echos the same sentiment, calling out Zemeckis for wasting “a de-aged Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.” IGN points out that the movie lacks “some of the things that make it a movie,” while The Hollywood Reporter accuses it of boxing in its Forrest Gump lead stars. UPI expresses that the film “lacks heart.“

Why Are Here Reviews Poor

Technology Overshadows Characters & Storytelling

The Daily Beast backed its argument by explaining that the film failed to take advantage of its unique concept that it “seems designed to investigate” nor does it play with “the tension between what’s inside and outside its frame.” Instead, the director is “most concerned with depicting the totality of modern life in a sole structure.” Variety explained that while “there are deep thoughts to be found down such rabbit holes” and Here “roughly” points in the “right direction,” it gets distracted with “a handful of far shadower threads,” namely the “disappointed generic lives of four families.“

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On a technical level, Deadline praised the director’s effort to mix “the newest filmmaking technologies” with “relatable stories” but instead of sending “its century-plus cast of characters back in time,” the director “lets time come to them on a single piece of land.” The review further argued that by placing the camera “in a stable position” to capture the characters’ lives, Here would have made a “great theatrical piece with the opportunity for dazzling changes of scenery.” However, the film took “the cinematic route” instead, which countered its effort.

Our Take On The Here Reviews

It’s A Bold Experiment With Flaws

Image via Sony Pictures

Based on the trailer for Here, the new movie examines a very ambitious premise. The “tree house” idea is very intriguing, which also means that the expectation for this experiment is high. What critics generally agree is the film’s focus on technology, which seems to have distracted the movie from telling a humanly relatable story with emotional impact.

Here is a bold experiment by the director and A-list actors, but it’s not even close to Forrest Gump‘s approach to time. The film seems to have lost its way while toying with new technologies and experimental filmmaking methods. It makes sense for a filmmaker who is known for pushing boundaries to focus on innovation and changing the way stories are told. Sadly, Here is not perfect. There are things to learn from the experiment, but without filmmakers like Zemeckis, who are curious and restless about trying, there’ll be no progress made. Here is a needed experiment, even though it may seem like a failure in many.

Source: Various (see above)

A young couple expecting their first child takes in the husband’s estranged, ailing mother. Set in a single room, the story spans multiple generations, capturing moments of love, loss, and everyday life in the same space. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and featuring performances by Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, and Paul Bettany, the film uses groundbreaking technology to de-age actors and presents a unique, stationary camera perspective throughout its runtime.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Release Date

November 15, 2024

Studio(s)

MiraMax , Playtone , ImageMovers

Distributor(s)

TriStar Pictures

Writers

Eric Roth , Robert Zemeckis

Runtime

104 Minutes

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