Tom Hanks’ New Movie Has A Sly Reference To $429 Million Forrest Gump Reunion Film

Here sees Tom Hanks reunite with director Robert Zemeckis, and the movie includes a sly reference to one of their earlier collaborations. The 2024 drama marks the fifth time that Hanks and Zemeckis have worked together on a movie, as the partnership began in 1994 with Forrest Gump. The Oscar-winning drama and box office hit enticed the duo to work together over the years, although the frequency of their pairing has picked up in recent years. Despite these previous works, Here is the biggest Forrest Gump reunion film to date with Robin Wright, Eric Roth, and others also involved.

The longevity of Hanks and Zemeckis’ partnership, and their individual careers, created some unique possibilities with a story like Here. Since the movie’s setting spans millions of years of history, the ever-changing time periods meant a variety of pop culture and historical references. Here‘s dialogue and details even appear to sneak in a Cast Away reference, intentionally or not. The 2000 Oscar-nominated film and $429 million box office performer has a pivotal moment related to Chuck’s journey, and there’s a neat callback to it in Here.

One Here Line Indirectly References Chuck & Kelly’s Reunion In Cast Away

At one point in Here, there is a conversation between a realtor and Al and Rose Young as they are looking to buy Here‘s main home. Since Al is a World War II veteran, the realtor makes a comment about all the husbands who have come home from the war. She even mentions she’s heard instances of wives opening their front doors and finding their husbands, who were presumed dead, standing in front of them. That’s notable considering Cast Away‘s ending.

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Here Ending Explained

Here’s ending is a bittersweet ode to the passage of time and importance of love, connecting the movie’s primary plot to its several other threads.

One of the pivotal scenes near the end of Cast Away comes when Chuck (Tom Hanks) goes to talk to Kelly (Helen Hunt) at her house. Before Chuck could knock on the door, Kelly opened it and, for the first time in four years, saw the man she was likely going to marry. Chuck and Kelly’s reunion is not identical to the stories the realtor is referring to in Here, but the similarities are apparent. Even if this was not intentional on Here‘s part, it’s difficult not to think about this memorable Tom Hanks scene in Robert Zemeckis’ previous movie.

Here’s Cast Away Callback Is One Of Multiple Unintentional References To Tom Hanks’ Filmography

Tom Hanks’ Movies Are Easily Referable

Here mentioning a story that is similar to what happened in Cast Away is one of a few times that the movie mentions events that happen to connect to movies Tom Hanks has been in before. The World War II backdrop of a few subplots brings his WWII movies like Saving Private Ryan and Greyhound to mind. The film also seems to take place in or around Pennsylvania, with Philadelphia mentioned by name, making one think about Tom Hanks’ Oscar-winning performance in Philadelphia. There’s even a mention of the space race and NASA, which leads to thoughts about Apollo 13.

It’s unlikely that any of these Tom Hanks movie references in Here were done on purpose. However, the various connections become great reminders of the incredible filmography the movie’s star has been part of. He’s done it all over the decades and remains a versatile and prominent star. So just as Here highlights time through its story, it’s also a wonderful reminder of some of the classic performances Tom Hanks has delivered throughout the years.

Director

Robert Zemeckis

Release Date

November 1, 2024

Writers

Robert Zemeckis , Eric Roth

Cast

Tom Hanks , Robin Wright , Paul Bettany , Kelly Reilly , Albie Salter , Michelle Dockery , Gwilym Lee , Nicholas Pinnock , Nikki Amuka-Bird , Cache Vanderpuye , Keith Bartlett , Daniel Betts , Leslie Zemeckis , Alfie Todd , Ellis Grunsell , Zsa Zsa Zemeckis , Teddy Russell , Finn Guegan , Callum Macreadie , Lauren McQueen , Grace Lyra , Jemima Macintyre , Billie Gadsdon , Beau Gadsdon , Harry Marcus , Diego Scott , Logan Challis , Albie Mander , Eloísa Ferreira , Eliza Daley , Elodie Crapper , Faith Delaney

Runtime

104 Minutes

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