Review of Wild (2014) by Mark S — 27 Jun 2015

If you watch this movie hoping that it will capture the spirit of the novel, I am afraid you will be disappointed. Regardless of how you feel about Cheryl Strayed and her reasons for undertaking this arduous trek, you cannot deny that she is a gifted writer and the experience makes for compelling reading.

Unfortunately, the movie is a weary slog with none of the tension or humor of the book. The cinematography does the subject matter justice, but even this part of the film isn't used to its potential.

Admittedly, this is a difficult story to adapt for the screen, but fans of the book will probably be scratching their heads at what seem to be pointless or contrived character consolidations or omissions, as well as glaring changes to the timeline of events. The use of flashbacks to provide the backstory to the protagonist's motivation to hike the PCT seems like a natural device. In fact, that was the method that the author used in the book. However, in the movie, it has the result of interrupting the continuity of the story, and ends up making you less interested in Cheryl's past and her present predicament.