Tom Hanks recreates iconic 'Forrest Gump' scene with his son — and it's hitting us right in the feels

"Run, Forrest, run!" This dialogue from "Forrest Gump" created a core memory for anyone who loves movies. With the sparkle of a dream held tight under our eyelids, the character of Gump comprised, in part, all of us. 

In Chet Hanks' new music video for the song "You Better Run," the actor and musician portrays his father's character, Forrest, while also narrating his story in song. Rooted in the idea of breaking free, Hanks traces Gump's emotional journey — likening it to our own. The songmakers create bridges that connect us to this film from over 3 decades ago. One of these themes is the concept of isolation and self-imposed limitations due to perceived failure with lyrics like, "You’re probably gonna fall into her spell like I did/ You’re probably gonna say the same old lines that I said."

Performed by the entire Something Out West band, it is primarily Chet who dominates the screen. He begins with softness, just as Forrest did, on a park bench with a box of chocolates on his lap. From there, to fit the narrative of a 2-hour 22-minute feature film into a 3-minute video is a mammoth task, something Chet is able to pull off with rehearsed ease. Starting from costumes to styling to body movement, every single character referenced from the original film seems to retain its distinct threads.

There is an abundance of movie references throughout the video, with Tom Hanks himself appearing to take Jenny's place on the bench. As Chet continues his antics, Hanks is seen staring into the camera, rather flabbergasted. As the video progresses, Hanks becomes increasingly irritable until, at the end, he breaks character and gives us a glimpse of their soft, familial bond.

At one point in the video, a couple of bullies throw an object at Chet. The latter, clad in the same blue-white stripes as his father in the original scene, begins to run. The gait... makes the resemblance uncanny.

The song's climax shows a man in a red jacket and khaki pants running. Behind him, the song plays: "You better run like the devil’s on your tail/ Like you broke out of jail/Like a big storm’s coming." The shot ends with him in sweaty shorts, his scraggly beard and red hat a picture-perfect reference to the 15,000 miles that Forrest had covered across the USA. 

Interestingly, as per The Guardian, the "real-life Forrest Gump," Rob Pope, ran across the US nearly five times, covering a distance of 15,000 miles in 422 days. The undaunted spirit of the film inspired him deeply. He had been miserable at his job, which demanded a taxing 13-hour shift every day. So, with a hand on his heart, he embarked on a monumental quest with the words from his late mother echoing in his ears: "Do one thing in your life that makes a difference.”

As is evident from Pope's story, 'Forrest Gump' is a film that has resonated with many people, and Chet throws us down a rabbit hole of nostalgia by performing on a boat named Jenny. This song finds a sweet spot in the arms of country rock. Chet's vocal texture, his range (Chet also raps), composition, and the sweet message from "Forrest Gump" all tie together to produce a unique piece of work.