Reviews for Tom Hanks' newest movie,Here, have arrived and critics do not seem to like the film. This is disappointing, asHeresees Hanks reunite withForrest GumpcollaboratorsRobert Zemeckis and Robin Wright.Hanks and Wright last shared the screen together in 1994’sForrest Gump, in which they played love interests Forrest and Jenny. Zemeckis directedForrest Gump, and has also teamed up with Hanks on other iconic films, such asCast Away. Therefore, with the amount of talent behind and in front of the camera forHere, anticipation was high for the film.
However, severalcritics have been unimpressed withHere. The story of Hanks' new movie is very ambitious, as it is entirely set on one plot of land, and starts in the far past before a home is eventually built. From there, the main story ofHerefollows several families who live in the same home at different times over the course of a century. Zemeckis co-wroteHerewithKillers of the Flower Moonscreenwriter Eric Roth. In addition to Hanks and Wright, the film also stars Paul Bettany and Kelly Reilly.
Here’s Reviews Criticize The Film’s Story & Setting Limitations
Here Is Set Entirely In One Room
InHere, Zemeckis sets the camera up to showcase one room in the home, but that’s all. Therefore,the film is structured very similar to a stage play, in which the story being told is limited to a confined space. While this is a unique concept, several reviews pointed out that the idea is not executed well enough.The Daily Beast’s review stated that Zemeckis has “little interest in playing with the tension between what’s inside and outside its frame.”
While the reviewer noted Zemeckis does find some creative ways to show what’s on the other side of the camera, they argue that he still “doesn’t take advantage of the very seen/unseen dynamic that his gimmick seems designed to investigate.”
Unfortunately, reviews have also pointed out thatHere’sstory and characters are not that interesting.
Even if limiting the movie’s story to only one location is not very effective,Herestill could’ve told a satisfying story if audiences were invested in the characters. However, unfortunately, reviews have also pointed out thatHere’sstory and characters are not that interesting. In its review,Varietyrefers to the four families who inhabit the home as “disappointingly generic.”
Here Highlights Its De-Aging Technology Better Than The Characters
Here De-Ages Tom Hanks and Robin Wright
SinceHerehighlights the lives of different families living in a home over the course of a century, the characters age dramatically throughout the movie.Hanks and Wright are introduced in the movie as teenagers, but end the movie as an elderly couple. Hanks, 68, and Wright, 58, can no longer convincingly play teenagers, but instead of casting younger actors,Zemeckis utilizes de-aging technologyto show them inhabiting their home during their younger years.
Tom Hanks' New Movie Has Me Worried For One Big Reason
Tom Hanks’ new movie, Here, is exciting for several reasons, but one big aspect of the film makes me especially nervous about the romance dramedy.
To achieve this, Zemeckis and the creative team behind the film loaded thousands of archival images of both actor’s faces into an engine to create a “digital makeup” for Hanks and Wright. Then, they superimposed their “digital makeup” on them in post-production, and also during filming. This is a practice that is becoming more and more common in Hollywood.
It has previously been used for acclaimed movies such as Martin Scorsese’sThe Irishman, and also for popular franchises likeStar Wars. However, the end result is not always convincing, andIndieWirenotes that “we’re never not aware that these are actors three times the age of the characters they’re playing.”
Forrest Gump And Jenny Are A Memorable Cinematic Couple
As mentioned,Herehad even higher expectations to live up to because it acted as the reunion movie for Hanks, Wright, and Zemeckis, all three of whom were acclaimed for their work onForrest Gump. Since Hanks and Wright haven’t starred in a movie together for 30 years,longtime fans ofForrest Gumpwere excited to see their chemistry on screen again. While reviews forHerenote that Hanks and Wright convincingly play husband and wife, their story in the film is not as intriguing as it was in the 1995 Best Picture winner.
While it may be unfair to compare Here to aniconic film likeForrest Gump, that is an inevitability when considering how excited many were for the trio of Hanks, Wright, and Zemeckis to reunite. Beyond the love that many still have forForrest Gump,Hanks and Zemeckis also collaborated onCast Away, another wildly successful and iconic movie. Therefore, based on their track record, it is fair for fans to expect the best out of this director/actor duo. Unfortunately,Herejust does not seem to be meeting many people’s expectations.
Why Here’s Reviews Are So Discouraging
In Addition To Forrest Gump and Cast Away, Zemeckis Also Directed All Three Back To The Future Movies
While Zemeckis has made many acclaimed movies, he’s currently on a streak of movies that have garnered less-than-favorable reviews. His last three films,Pinocchio(which also stars Tom Hanks),The Witches, andWelcome to Marwen, have Rotten Tomatoes scores of 28%, 50%, and 34%, respectively.There was hope thatHerecould be a return to form for Zemeckis, and could have potentially led to more collaborations between himself, Hanks, and Wright. While a future collaboration between theForrest Gumptrio is not out of the realm of possibility,Herebasically confirms that there wouldn’t be as much excitement for it.
If Zemeckis could have combined his proven skill in crafting intriguing stories filled with rich and complex characters, with a creative use of technology to tell a tale that spans a century,Herecould have been a massive cinematic achievement. However, so far, all of the reviews seem to agree that Here is an ambitious film that misses the mark, and ultimately ends up being underwhelming and forgettable.
Here
Cast
Here is an objective and formal description for the movie Here (2024): Directed by Robert Zemeckis, this film is an exploration of time and memory, unraveling the intertwined lives and stories of families across generations in a New England setting.
