Review of A Walk in the Woods (2015) by Lukechristiansc — 29 Dec 2015

It's not an Oscar winner, the film does what it wants to do entertain the older generation I can appreciate that. Academy Award-winner Robert Redford plays Author Bill Bryson he wants to hike the Appalachian Trail "You are not doing this alone!" Says his wife Katherine (Emma Thompson), so he calls everyone he knows to hike with him and they all say no.

He gets the call from his high school friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte, it was supposed to be Paul Newman originally but Nolte steals the show) to join him on the 2,200 trail. Along the trail they meet interesting people they meet Mary Ellen (Kristen Shaal) an annoying not very wise we'll put it quite loony, whom Bryson and Katz ditch so they won't have to deal with her for their sake.

Bryson meets a beautiful hotel manager played decently by Mary Steenburgen. Katz meets an overweight but beautiful woman (in Katz's mind) at a washing dryer store he tries to have sex with her until her overweight husband in a red pick up truck comes and gets him.

Screenwriters Bill Holderman and Rick Kerb don't care about the fans of the source material, they just think we'll love it anyways and we just have to accept the mistakes. First of all, The real Bill Bryson hiked the trail when he was in his 40's.

His real wife's name is not Catherine it's Cynthia. Reford is too old (no offense). Despite all of that its a good adaptation. Director Ken Kwapis (He's Just Not That Into You) captures breathetaking scenery.

It has the soul of Bryson's memoir, it has the laugh out loud humor and Reford has his charisma and Nolte gives us plenty of laughs playing an old beaten down man. If your a fan of the book like me, you'll enjoy it and have some complaints.

It's not for the old generation it tries to have a spot in the Labor Day special and it succeeds.