When I was in elementary school, “Bosom Buddies” was in syndication. This is the first time I had ever seen Tom Hanks in acting. Admittedly, I liked the show, particularly, the opening credits where the character played by Peter Scolari was holding a paper bag and the Tom Hanks character was throwing oranges into the air which Peter Scolari’s character would then catch. There was something about the two characters living a dual existence, kind of a split personality.
Then they didn’t show the show 
in syndication anymore. But Tom Hanks continued to work in movies. In particular, he showed up in comedic movies. Splash, The Money Pit, Turner and Hooch, The Burbs, and Joe Versus the Volcano. He was fine in this role as a kind of comedic actor. His kind of laid back enthusiasm made him the perfect person to play these roles much like Will Ferrell plays his roles to well.
But, unsatisfied with this role, Tom Hanks attempted to move into more dramatic roles. This is where my dislike of him began. Mr. Hanks was inappropriate for the role of a gay actor in Philadelphia. I found his acting unconvincing and awful. The funny thing about it is that because of the 
movie’s topic, Mr. Hanks was destined to be lauded for his performance; how could anyone fail when such a good cause was on the line. Almost anybody would have been lauded in that role.
Then, because of the stepping stone that Philadelphia gave Mr. Hanks, he was able to other roles he was inappropriate for merely because of his status. Mr. Hanks was a terrible voice choice for Woody in Toy Story. (So was Tim Allen for Buzz, consequently.) He not convincing as a mentally challenged person in Forest Gump. Role after role he landed but was ill-suited for.
Thereafter, he began his power play, stepping behind the camera and turning his attentions to directing and producing. I think thereafter he held his grip on Hollywood, and hence the nation, by advancing his own agendas at the expense of the true art that movies are meant to be.
I think the icing on the cake was his role in the Di Vinci Code. As a Catholic, anyone supporting an anti-Catholic agenda has lost my respect. For a man who holds the nation’s attention in his sway, he should have known better to star in a movie which is blasphemous and disrespectful to a faith.
In a word or two, Tom Hanks is an actor of circumstance who, instead of recognizing where his talents should best would be applied, i.e., low-budget comedic films, has grasped the neck of Hollywood, in attempt to make himself forever relevant. This in a word is why I will not willingly spend another dollar in support of Tom Hanks.
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