Official Australian release date: 3/9/15. Viewed: 4/9/15.
Director: Ken Kwapis
Actors: Robert Redford, Nick
Nolte, Emma Thompson, Kristen Schaal
Genre: Comedy / Adventure
Rating:
M
‘A Walk in the Woods’ is basically a
middle-aged “bromance” movie. It just happens to be based on Bill Bryson’s fantastic
1998 eponymous true-story book. Full disclosure – Bryson is one of my favourite
authors, always having something interesting or funny to say. The film is not quite
about Bryson (Redford)’s mid-life crisis (as he’s now in his 70s, not 40s like
the book), but he and a formerly-estranged friend, Stephen Katz (Nolte) set off
on the Appalachian Trail, which spans America’s east coast, from Georgia in the
South to Maine in the North – 2,100 miles (~3,500km)!
From the director of ‘He’s Just Not
That Into You’ and ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants’ – not a promising
pedigree! – Kwapis nonetheless does a good job of keeping the pace up, which
can be hard when it’s mostly two guys just walking and talking! But therein lies
the beauty of the film – it’s simple and sweet, with plenty of jokes and wit
between the two old friends, some quick interactions with other hikers on the
Trail (such as Schaal, gratingly funny!) and some breathtaking wilderness
shots.
It did remind me of my time in the
U.S., when I did visit the Pisgah Forest in North Carolina and the Great Smoky
National Park in Tennessee, where they start their hike. The scenery is helped
by Lord Huron’s soundtrack, which is folky, but upbeat. The final third is not
as engaging as it could be, but there’s some sincere moments to be found amongst
the humour and everything is propelled by Nolte & Redford’s enjoyable
chemistry.
Overall: As good as the book? Of
course not, but fun and light
Gav's Rating: 3.5 stars.
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