a walk in the woods movie review nytimes

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, a walk in the woods.

Now streaming on:

There is only one question that you need to ask yourself before deciding to see “A  Walk in the Woods”: Can you justify sitting through an utterly predictable and rather tame man vs. nature ramble in order to enjoy the affable odd-couple chemistry shared by Robert Redford and Nick Nolte ?

Certainly, it is hard to resist a rare opportunity to observe these seasoned septuagenarians go at it with gusto, especially considering that the only other time Redford and Nolte have been cast mates was in the barely-seen 2013 political thriller “ The Company You Keep .” Nowadays, the handsomely rough-hewn star of “North Dallas Forty” looks more like a ruddy-faced Yeti while the still-fit Sundance Kid is paying the price for all that ultraviolet glare on the ski slopes. But these guys still know how to not just hold our attention but grab it, even if their current film needs them more than they need it.

Redford, who is also a producer, initially planned on reteaming with buddy Paul Newman a decade or so ago when he began to piece together this project based on Bill Bryson ’s humor-filled 1998 account of his misadventures while hiking the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail. A reunion with his sparring partner in “ Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ” and “ The Sting ,” halted by Newman’s death in 2008, would have been a must-see event. But the ever-volatile and gravel-voiced Nolte and the perennially cool and smooth-talking Redford manage just fine as a bracing pair of fellow travelers.

The feminist in me initially planned to bash “A  Walk in the Woods,“ directed in typical middle-of-the-road fashion by  Ken Kwapis (“He’s Just Not That Into You”)  with an unfortunate insistence on telegraphing almost every laugh. On what grounds? That both leads are at least 30 years too old for their roles since Bryson and his estranged reprobate pal, Stephen Katz , are 44 in the book.

Would Hollywood have allowed, say, Shirley MacLaine and Debbie Reynolds to headline “Bridemaids”? But then I recalled that Reese Witherspoon in last year’s “ Wild ” was more than 10 years older than the real Cheryl Strayed , who was 26 when she traversed the Pacific Crest Trail. Besides, genuine star power knows no expiration date and, without these esteemed seniors as a main attraction,“A  Walk in the Woods” might have been unwatchable.

Whereas a solo Witherspoon in her Oscar-nominated role struggled with her inner demons as much as she did the elements, “A  Walk in the Woods” is more about two unlikely acquaintances crossing paths again after a long-ago falling out caused their relationship to go astray. Redford’s wry Bryson, a popular writer of travelogues who is tired of resting on his considerable laurels while spending too much time writing forewords for other people’s books, is in a funk after attending a funeral. That is when he spies a marker for the Georgia-to-Maine trail near his New Hampshire home.

Against the wishes of his sensible British wife of 40 years ( Emma Thompson , under-used as a radiator of warmth), he decides on a whim to attempt this marathon test of endurance and picks Katz to join him – primarily because none of his other friends are crazy enough to say yes. Katz, based in Bryson’s native Iowa, claims that the fact that he has several outstanding warrants against him is the reason he has volunteered to huff and puff over hill and dale. But when this recovering alcoholic and unrepentant womanizer admires the tributes and accomplishments piled up in his Bryce’s den, it is clear Katz desires some sort of reconnection as well.

Considering that Nolte’s wheezy scalawag can barely stumble out of a small plane, matters move a tad slowly at first but eventually pick up. Bryson might be a thinker and Katz a talker, but unlike “Wild,” there are few deep revelations or bouts of philosophizing along the way. Instead, amusing incidents, encounters and mishaps pile up as the companions fill in the blanks of their personal histories. Be forewarned: There is an R-rated abundance of salty language, what with Bryson prone to expressing what a bear does in the  woods and Katz’s committed embrace of the F-word, as well as non-explicit frisky business implied.

Occasionally, Kwapis slips in a shot of scenic splendor as a reminder of where we are. Bears put in a cameo along the way, as well as other such other natural hazards as rain, snow, mud and slippery slopes. Then there are annoyances of the human variety. Kristen Schaal is in her comedy comfort zone as a pushy chatterbox hiker who likes to flaunt her superior knowledge of three-season tents as she attempts to tag along with Bryce and Katz. Her appearance conveniently acts a bonding agent for the men as they conspire to ditch her.

Despite excusing the age discrepancy issue, I still recoiled now and then at how every female onscreen exists to simply serve the needs of the central male characters. I guess it makes sense that Nolte’s Katz has a Neanderthal’s notion of women, as revealed in his speech about the romantic options of an ugly sister, with being slutty as No. 1. An inveterate chubby chaser, his need to crack suggestive pancake remarks to a plus-size waitress is topped by his laundromat encounter over a pair of pink panties snagged in a washer with a local who he describes as “a beautiful body buried under 200 pounds of fat.” Meanwhile, Redford’s Bryce shares a flirtatious pas de deux with Mary Steenburgen ’s roadside motel proprietress but does not stray, much to Katz’s horndog chagrin. 

One wonders what might have been if Newman were still around. Oddly enough, there is a scene that briefly summons memories of Butch and Sundance when the guys are trapped on a ledge and peer over a harrowing incline to see a body of water below. I kept hoping they would jump in together. But it was not to be.

Susan Wloszczyna

Susan Wloszczyna spent much of her nearly thirty years at USA TODAY as a senior entertainment reporter. Now unchained from the grind of daily journalism, she is ready to view the world of movies with fresh eyes.

Now playing

Nowhere Special

Boy Kills World

Simon abrams.

Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

Art College 1994

The Roundup: Punishment

Film credits.

A Walk in the Woods (2015)

Rated R for language and some sexual references

104 minutes

Robert Redford as Bill Bryson

Nick Nolte as Katz

Emma Thompson as Catherine Bryson

Nick Offerman as REI Dave

Kristen Schaal as Mary Ellen

• Bill Holderman
• Bill Bryson

Cinematography

• John Bailey

Latest blog posts

The Ross Brothers Made a Road-Trip Movie. They Didn’t Come Back the Same.

Book Excerpt: The World is Yours: The Story of Scarface by Glenn Kenny

Doctor Who Travels to Disney+ For a Lavish, Fun New Regeneration

The 10 Best Start-of-Summer-Movie-Season Films of the 21st Century

clock This article was published more than  8 years ago

‘A Walk in the Woods’ movie review

When Bill Bryson's travelogue " A Walk in the Woods " came out in 1998, it landed almost instantly on the New York Times bestseller list. The word of mouth was epidemic: This book is hilarious.

Now that the account of two mismatched galoots attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail is a movie, directed by Ken Kwapis, hilarious isn’t the first word that comes to mind. Cute, maybe. Or pleasant. But you won’t have to worry about laughing so hard you snort, which was a legitimate concern for anyone reading Bryson’s prose in public.

Robert Redford, who has been trying to get this movie made for a decade, stars as Bryson. The Bill of the movie is mildly misanthropic, the kind of guy who will do anything to avoid awkward small talk — even if it means disappearing into the forest for five months. His wife Catherine (Emma Thompson) thinks this is a terrible idea and starts printing out articles about hikers who were killed along the trail, which stretches for more than 2,000 miles between Georgia and Maine. (In a nice touch, when Bill reads the stories, we hear them in Catherine’s hectoring voice.) When she doesn’t succeed in deterring her husband, Catherine insists that Bill at least find a travel companion. That’s how he ends up reuniting with the brash, bumbling Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte), a childhood friend of Bill’s. The pair hadn’t spoken in decades. So much for avoiding small talk.

Where Bill is a trim family man with many professional accolades, Katz, as he is known, has had a harder life, leaving him disheveled and bear-like. He explains that he spent most of the intervening decades sleeping around and getting drunk (and, presumably, smoking, judging by his nails-on-a-chalkboard voice). He’s also, incidentally, on the lam from a drunken-driving offense. This setup lays the foundation for an odd-couple dynamic, but the bickering never really kicks in. As it turns out, the old friends have surprisingly similar senses of humor, constantly dishing out sarcastic gibes, only some of which land well.

The trail doesn’t offer much in the way of drama, other than a couple of huge bears. They’re an opportunity for a sight gag as the men stand up with their tents on their heads, trying to look intimidating. A few other eccentric characters cross their path, including Kristen Schaal as an irritatingly judgmental authority on all things trail-related. Mostly, the men just amble along without so much as a blister, wheezing their way through a low-stakes journey that they’re free to quit at any time.

In the book, Bryson would occasionally go on delightful tangents about the history of the trail or certain types of trees, and Redford’s incarnation does that, too. Here, however, it feels less organic, as Bill gives a bored-looking Katz a lesson in American chestnuts. And Kwapis’s direction can be maddening at times. Camera angles tend to show either too much or too little visual information, making it difficult to tell what exactly is happening and, at times, blunting the impact of a sight gag.

For a moment, the movie tries to be about something deeper — some existential epiphany, perhaps. The book didn’t deal in platitudes. It was content to be lightly educational, but mostly just entertaining. The movie aspires to be more than that, only to reveal how much less than that it really is.

R.  At area theaters. Contains strong language and some sexual references. 98 minutes.

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

A Walk in the Woods review – Robert Redford takes an uphill trudge

Stripping out most of Bill Bryson’s prose and wit, this adaptation with Redford and Nick Nolte leaves us with a sentimental tale of two old geezers taking a hike

A Walk in the Woods is based on Bill Bryson’s travel book about attempting to hike the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in the US with an old friend. It strips out most of Bryson’s prose and wit and leaves us with a folksy-sentimental tale about a couple of adorable old geezers tottering through the woods, like Statler and Waldorf without the laughs. At 79 years old, producer-star Robert Redford plays Bill Bryson, who was in his mid-40s when he undertook the hike. The movie’s geriatric themes can therefore be described as semi-intentional, and Redford’s performance is really so stilted it’s as if he is playing Bill Bryson the way a famous writer with no performing skills might play himself.

Pottering in and out of the kitchen, Redford’s Bryson gives us huge “reaction” expressions and broad double takes of the sort I remember Peter Glaze doing on Crackerjack. Emma Thompson does her best with the thankless role of Bryson’s wife. Having reportedly nursed this project for years, Redford originally hoped Paul Newman might play Bryson’s cantankerous old buddy. There’s a jokey scene that does look like a riff on their great Butch-and-Sundance leap of faith. Sadly, mortality got in the way, so now it’s a red-faced and dishevelled Nick Nolte playing Katz. An uphill trudge.

• Drama films
• Bill Bryson
• Robert Redford
• Travel writing

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

‘A Walk in the Woods’ Review: Robert Redford and Nick Nolte Take a Hike, Forced Wackiness Ensues

Two old codgers get a crazy idea that leads exactly where you would expect in Bill Bryson’s adapted memoir

If you think man-crack is the apex of hilarity, “A Walk in the Woods” just might be the movie for you. It’s all right there in the trailers: slapstick, womp-womp one-liners, the premise of old buddies going on an adventure. See some moon or your money back!

So it’s surprising when the opening minutes show promise, thanks to an incredibly preserved Robert Redford,  who plays accomplished travel writer Bill Bryson. Even more of a surprise is learning that this film is based on a memoir. While you’re viewing the film — and guessing at the next moment of hijinks — you imagine the studio had a lot of notes.

Either that, or the real Bryson has lived a sitcom life. After attending a funeral, Bill goes for a walk and is inspired to hike the Appalachian Trail, a trip on which concerned wife ( Emma Thompson ) insists that he take a friend. Both at the funeral and in the opening scene — Bill’s trying to survive a torturous television interview — Redford’s facial expressions and quips convey genuine wit and humor. He soon goes head-to-head with Nick Offerman ‘s hiking gear salesman; another joke lands. Maybe this won’t be so bad.

Once Nick Nolte , as Bill’s college friend Stephen, shows up to join him on the hike, expectations plummet. Stephen is a cartoon: he talks as if his mouth were full of cotton; he limps off the plane and then tells Bill he needs to eat every hour or else he’ll get seizures. The beginning of their trip is a joke (but not the kind of joke this movie needs), with Katz huffing and puffing, barely able to walk, and needing to rest after a quarter-mile.

So where does director Ken Kwapis (“He’s Just Not That Into You”) and a trio of writers (one uncredited) take them from there? In last year’s Oscar-nominated “Wild,” flashbacks were effectively used to break up the protagonist’s hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. But “A Walk in the Woods” decides to go for — nay, strain for — antics. You can hear the brainstorming: What can we have happen to them? Bears, for one. Falling into a creek, definitely. Getting caught in snow and rainstorms. Umm … how about making a woman’s husband ragingly jealous of Katz?

Yes, Katz, who meets said woman in a laundromat while wearing garbage bags and looking like the red-faced aftermath into which Nolte can easily transform. She flirts first, of course.

Let’s talk about the woman’s size for a moment. She’s big. She’s really big. And that makes her a target for mockery, with Katz effectively saying he’s the only guy who’d want to sleep with her. Previously, Katz remarked that their waitress, another woman of size, was attractive. No insult followed, but it was meant to reflect the film’s notion that he’s got a profoundly skewed vision of the world. And Katz’s own fatness is mined for laughs: He’s on the top bunk, look out!

Needless to say, most of these moments — particularly the joke about how no one’s likely attracted to Laundromat Lady — are mean-spirited in a film that seems out for innocent goofs. If such details are in Bryson’s memoir, well, the guy’s a jerk. After that ugliness, “A Walk in the Woods” needed only one more pratfall to officially fail.

Redford’s Bill (whom Katz calls “Bryson”) at least comes off like a realistic person, and he still earns a laugh or two after the trek begins. But Katz is lazily drawn: all those vulnerabilities and impediments disappear after the yuks have been wrung out of them. He’s magically a real live man! And boy, is Nolte’s dialogue (here’s hoping it wasn’t improv) unnatural: When you’re with an old pal, do you use his or her name in every sentence? “Well, Bryson…” “The thing is, Bryson…” “Hey Bryson?” (as if anyone else is within hearing distance). Once you notice it, you can’t stop noticing it.

Even the wackiest comedies can’t be wacky all the time, though. And you can see this film’s big-picture lesson coming an Appalachian Trail away. Then again, that man-crack was telegraphed, too.

A Walk In The Woods Review

17 Sep 2015

104 minutes

A Walk In The Woods

Two 70-plus boys trekking the length of the American East Coast ruminating on life! It’s a male Wild! Without flashbacks. Or personal demons. Or sex. Based on a bestselling 1998 memoir of writer/humorist Bill Bryson — snapped up early by Redford as a possible project for him and Paul Newman — this is a gentle, droll charmer that relies on the still considerable presence of its odd couple on the road, with breathtaking scenery and starry, starry nights their backdrops.

Having lived in the UK most of his adult life, Bryson and his family moved back to the US in the ’90s for a spell. In one of those ‘I should do this while I still can’ brainstorms he conceives the idea of hiking the famous Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. His wife (Emma Thompson), aghast, only reluctantly agrees to let him go if someone goes with him. The sole volunteer is uninvited Stephen Katz (a pseudonym by which Bryson immortalised his travel companion in early chronicles of their youthful misadventures across Europe). Katz is an unhealthy alcoholic on the run from something, but Bryson suppresses his misgivings and the two set forth.

Nothing wildly dramatic occurs, which is lucky since director Ken Kwapis is primarily a TV guy safe with characters conversing, nothing tricky. There is slapstick: an encounter with a bear, a snowstorm, a comically disastrous tumble that strands them on a cliff ledge, and the odd flirtatious motel manageress (Mary Steenburgen) or obnoxious fellow hiker to escape. The pleasure is in the sarcastic byplay between coarse, rascally Katz and drily witty, intellectual Bryson, with some musing on the environment, life, death and love. No jeopardy, no redemption, just a pleasant hike huffing and puffing through shared memories and the craving for a last adventure.

Screen Rant

The true story of a walk in the woods explained.

Your changes have been saved

Email Is sent

Please verify your email address.

You’ve reached your account maximum for followed topics.

Robert Redford Hasn’t Been In A TV Show For 60 Years, But He’s Involved In A Current Underrated Series

“this is so stupid”: a 5-year-old movie de-aged robert redford in the most ridiculous way (& got away with it), dwayne johnson & ryan reynolds' feud is bad news for netflix's most-watched franchise.

• A Walk in the Woods i s a 2015 movie based on Bill Bryson's true story of hiking the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz.
• The film accurately portrays Bryson's struggles on the trail, but it also takes some liberties with what happened.
• The real Bryson returned to the trail alone after ending his journey with Katz, completing a total of 850 miles out of the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail.

A Walk in the Woods is based on Bill Bryson's true story and follows his real attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail. The 2015 biographic movie comes from director Ken Kwapis and stars Robert Redford and Nick Nolte in the main roles of Bill Bryson and Stephen Katz. It follows their journey together, an adventure that throws obstacles at them, as they don't know what to expect. The film portrays the real story quite accurately, but similar to other biopics, it takes some liberties with what actually happened .

A Walk in the Woods, which had been in development for almost a decade, premiered in 2015. It's based on Bryson's travel book of the same name, which he published in 1998. In the spring and summer of 1996, Bryson attempted to hike the Appalachian Train. Both the movie and the book reflect his struggles in this endeavor. Redford and Nolte aren't the only big names in the film. The cast of A Walk in the Woods also includes Emma Thompson, Mary Steenburgen, Nick Offerman, and Kristen Schaal, who also portray characters based on real people.

Robert Redford appeared in several TV shows at the beginning of his career, and now he’s returned to working on a small-screen project.

How Old Bill Bryson Was When He Walked The Appalachian Trail

Bill bryson was actually in his 40s.

The real Bryson is a British-American journalist and author. He embarked on the thru-hike of the 2,000+ mile Appalachian Trail extending from Georgia to Maine in 1996. At the time of his hike, he was 44 years old . He wrote about his journey in A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail , which was published in 1998.

Redford was 79 when A Walk in the Woods was filmed, marking a significant departure from the true story. The film's production was originally supposed to start in 2004, reuniting Redford with Paul Newman , his Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting costar. Unfortunately, Newman passed away in 2008, and the film had to be delayed. By the time production started, Redford was already in his 70s.

Bryson's Friend Stephen Katz Joined Him On His Hike, Starting In Georgia

Stephen katz was played by nick nolte.

In A Walk in the Woods , Bryson's wife, Catherine (whose real name is Cynthia Billen), pushed him to have someone join him on the trail. Bryson picked Katz, his estranged middle school friend, after most of his friends declined the offer. In reality, Bryson was terrified of walking the trail alone and invited his friends to join him . They all refused, and Katz reached out.

Bryson and Katz grew up together and traveled around Europe when they were young, just like the movie shows. Katz was a pseudonym in the movie and Bryson's book, and his real identity was secret for years. He was also mentioned in Bryson's Neither Here nor There . The real Katz's name is actually Matthew Angerer (via Dayton Daily News ). He was from Des Moines, Iowa, just like in the movie, and he passed away at 71 on June 22, 2023. When he joined Bryson on the Trail, he was also 44, younger than Nolte's A Walk in the Woods character. Nolte was 73 when filming the movie in 2014.

Why Bill & Stephen Skipped Part Of The Trail & Ended The Hike Early

They weren't even halfway there.

Bryson and Katz never hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, which is more than 2,190 miles long (via Appalachian Trail Conservancy ). In one go, the hike lasts approximately five to seven months. They hiked for what felt like a long distance, but they realized they were barely in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The two accepted that the journey was too much for them and skipped a huge section of the trail , starting again in Roanoke, Virginia. In his book, Bryson shared his desire for easier terrain, which is partly why he and Katz abandoned the full hike. Bryson went on a book tour after, while Katz returned to Des Moines to work.

Bill & Stephen Reunited To Walk The Hundred-Mile Wilderness In Maine

The journey wasn't done.

At the end of A Walk in the Woods , Bryson and Katz separate, with both going home. When he returns, Redford's Bryson goes into the study, opens a few letters, and reads the postcards Katz sent him while on the Appalachian Trail. What A Walk in the Woods' movie leaves out is that the pair later reunited to walk the trail again . The real Bryson and Katz got together to tackle the Hundred Mile Wilderness in Maine that August.

The 2018 Robert Redford film The Old Man & the Gun chose the most absurd method in which to de-age the actor, but it completely worked.

Bryson and Katz found it hard to readjust, and they only made it 15 miles into the trail before growing unhappy. The two talked about Katz's drinking problem, and Bryson offered to go ahead and find water. When he came back, he couldn't find Katz and spent hours looking for him. He found him disheveled and covered in blood the day after. Bryson and Katz decided to end their journey there, in a town called Milo, instead of going to the summit of Mount Katahdin as they’d planned.

How Much Of The Appalachian Trail Bill Bryson Actually Walked

Bryson returned to the trail alone.

Although the movie doesn't show what happened after the two end their journey, the real Bryson returned to the Appalachian Trail over the course of June and July 1996 by car , exploring the parts between Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. He also attempted to reenter the trail in Pennsylvania, but he drove around and couldn't find its access route. Bryson completed other hikes in the upcoming month after separating from Katz again, ending his journey with the trail on Mount Killington in Vermont. In total, he hiked 850 miles of the almost 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail .

How Successful Bill Bryson's A Walk In The Woods Book Was In Real Life

A walk in the woods became a bestseller.

At the end of A Walk in the Woods , Redford's Bryson opens up a new document and types the title of his upcoming book. Bryson published his travel book of the same name in 1998, and it became a success, receiving praise for its environmental themes and emphasis on conserving America's forests. Although it would've been difficult to depict in a movie, the book combines Bryson's adventures with comedy and broader discussions about the Appalachian Trail's history, sociology, geography, ecology, and conservation status. Bryson was already successful in the U.K. prior to A Walk in the Woods , but his new book made him well-known in the U.S. as well.

While on the trail, Bryson was unsure what he could write about, as there were times when nothing happened, as the routine was focused on walking, eating, and sleeping. Eventually, he wrote it anyway, changing Angerer's character into a more comedic personality. The book was a success. It hit the New York Times bestseller list, staying on it for 35 weeks. A Walk in the Woods became the most-rated book about the Appalachian Trail and CNN named it the funniest travel book ever written. Its response wasn't all good, as it also received some criticism from members of the Appalachian Trail community.

Source: Dayton Daily News , Appalachian Trail Conservancy , CNN

A Walk in the Woods

• A Walk in the Woods (2015)

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Become an FT subscriber

Try unlimited access Only $1 for 4 weeks

Then $75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Cancel anytime during your trial.

• Global news & analysis
• Expert opinion
• Special features
• FirstFT newsletter
• Videos & Podcasts
• Android & iOS app
• FT Edit app
• 10 gift articles per month

Explore more offers.

Standard digital.

• FT Digital Edition

Premium Digital

Print + premium digital, weekend print + standard digital, weekend print + premium digital.

Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• Global news & analysis
• Exclusive FT analysis
• FT App on Android & iOS
• FirstFT: the day's biggest stories
• 20+ curated newsletters
• Follow topics & set alerts with myFT
• FT Videos & Podcasts
• 20 monthly gift articles to share
• Lex: FT's flagship investment column
• 15+ Premium newsletters by leading experts
• FT Digital Edition: our digitised print edition
• Weekday Print Edition
• Videos & Podcasts
• Premium newsletters
• 10 additional gift articles per month
• FT Weekend Print delivery
• Everything in Standard Digital
• Everything in Premium Digital

Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders. Pay a year upfront and save 20%.

• 10 monthly gift articles to share
• Everything in Print

Terms & Conditions apply

Explore our full range of subscriptions.

Why the ft.

See why over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times.

International Edition

Sundance Film Review: ‘A Walk in the Woods’

Robert Redford and Nick Nolte grumpily commune with nature in this film of Bill Bryson's lightweight book.

By Dennis Harvey

Dennis Harvey

Film Critic

• ‘Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story’ Review: Solving The Mystery of a 1960s R&B Talent 1 week ago
• ‘The Strike’ Review: Doc Chronicles a Battle to Halt Endless Solitary Confinement 1 week ago
• ‘Infested’ Review: Effective French Chiller Unleashes Spiders on a Parisian Housing Project 2 weeks ago

Robert Redford and Nick Nolte go for “ A Walk in the Woods ” in Ken Kwapis ‘ broad, bland adaptation of Bill Bryson’s 1998 tome. Like that mildly amusing travel-memoir-cum-elongated-humor-column, there’s light diversion but little substance in this tale of two grumpy old men making a predictable hash of their effort to hike the Appalachian Trail. The appeal of the cast names and the equally venerable scenic vistas should lure older audiences, though whether they’ll get out to theaters or wait for home-format delivery is an open question.

With his grandkids coming of age and peers dying off, Bill (Redford) here worries he’s losing his mojo with little time to spare; ergo his very random decision to hike the 2,200-mile trail, a determined whim that his English wife, Cathy (Emma Thompson), considers foolish and dangerous at his age. She insists that at least he not travel alone. No one else is tempted to sign on, however, until out of the blue, Bill gets a call from fellow Iowa native Stephen Katz (Nolte), who invites himself along. Stephen hasn’t been heard from for decades, not since the duo had a youthful falling out while traveling in Europe.

Bill hasn’t been much of a hiker for a good 30 years or so. But he’s in Olympian shape compared with the careening wreck of Stephen, who tumbles off the plane in New Hampshire looking like a diabetic hobo. He’s overweight, and his status as a recovering alcoholic is a bit questionable. (There’s a whisky bottle in his rucksack.) Nonetheless, the duo soldier on to Georgia to commence their wheezing trek in the spring, intending to make it all the way to Maine before winter.

Popular on Variety

As they slog north, they have encounters with a cartoonishly obnoxious younger backpacker (Kristen Schaal), take a few pratfalls, scare off some bears, and occasionally stop to recoup at the nearest hotel. At one of the latter, Bill flirts with an attractive innkeeper (Mary Steenburgen) while chubby chaser Katz gets in hot water pursuing a local lass who turns out to have a very jealous husband.

Casting the 78-year-old Redford lends this quest a fear-of-mortality undercurrent duly spelled out in Rick Kerb and Bill Holderman’s competent but uninspired screenplay. His character keeps insisting, “I’m not writing a book” — but it was obvious from reading Bryson’s original (penned when he was just in his 40s) that the trip was little more than an excuse to drum up some funny anecdotes for just that purpose. The material remains essentially slight, buoyed along, but given precious little surprise, by its star thesps.

Given some of the author’s zingers, Redford (who originally planned to co-star with his iconic screen buddy, the late Paul Newman) gets to flash more crusty humor than he has in some time. Taking on his most prominent role in a few years, Nolte is entertaining but could hardly be more typecast — he’s been playing variations on this shambling rascal since “Down and Out in Beverly Hills” 29 years ago. While his always phlegmy delivery is good for some laughs, it’s so raspy now that at times he’s downright unintelligible. Supporting players are given little to do, even less of it interesting.

Sitcom veteran Kwapis has seldom been an inspired bigscreen helmer —his best such effort may well be “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” — and this workmanlike entertainment, comfortably paced and bereft of notable atmosphere, nuance or twists, does nothing to change that assessment. It’s pleasant enough cinematic comfort food, but even so, you may be hungry again soon afterward. The pro package is inevitably highlighted by some splendid aerial location shots in John Bailey’s widescreen location lensing. Not adding a whole lot of flavor is a sometimes overamped soundtrack dominated by unmemorable rootsy rock-folk songs by indie band Lord Huron.

Reviewed at Sundance Film Festival (Premieres), Jan. 23, 2015. Running time: 104 MIN.

• Production: A Route One Films presentation in association with Union Investment Partners and Surefire Entertainment Capital of a Wildwood Enterprises production. Produced by Robert Redford, Bill Holderman, Chip Diggins. Executive producers, Jeremiah Samuels, Jake Eberts, Jay Stern, Russell Levine, Lee Jea Woo.
• Crew: Directed by Ken Kwapis. Screenplay, Rick Kerb, Bill Holderman, based on the book by Bill Bryson. Camera (color, widescreen, HD), John Bailey; editors, Carol Littleton Ace, Julie Garces; music, Nathan Larson, Lord Huron; music supervisor, Sue Jacobs; production designer, Gae S. Buckley; costume designer, Leigh Leverett; set decorator, Lynne Mitchell; sound (Dolby Digital/Datasat), Shirley Libby; supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer, Ron Bochar; stunt coordinator, Lonnie Smith Jr.; assistant director, Stephen P. Dunn.
• With: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Kristen Schaal, Nick Offerman, Mary Steenburgen, Emma Thompson.

More From Our Brands

How to watch the psg vs. dortmund champions league semifinal game in the u.s., inside a $65 million beachfront retreat in the bahamas with two guest cottages, no a’s in attendance: oakland trails a whopping 553 u.s. teams, be tough on dirt but gentle on your body with the best soaps for sensitive skin, ncis finale recap: what’d jess decide about her future and who is ‘lily’, verify it's you, please log in.

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

A walk in the woods, common sense media reviewers.

Likable "old guy" comedy has great vistas, strong language.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Encourages older people to get out and try things,

Characters are highly flawed, but it's admirab

Angry man bangs on doors with a baseball bat. Fall

Strong innuendo, verbal sexual references, stories

Strong, fairly frequent language includes "f-

K-Mart is featured prominently in one sequence. A

Minor characters drink and drive. A character is a

Parents need to know that A Walk in the Woods is a dramedy -- based on Bill Bryson's nonfiction book -- about two older men (played by Robert Redford and Nick Nolte) who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail. Language is the biggest issue, with frequent uses of "f--k" and "s--t," as…

Positive Messages

Encourages older people to get out and try things, and encourages people in general to see life in new ways -- i.e. that sometimes things aren't quite so black and white as we might think.

Positive Role Models

Characters are highly flawed, but it's admirable that they try something challenging at an age when they might be less likely to go outside their comfort zone.

Violence & Scariness

Angry man bangs on doors with a baseball bat. Falls from ledges. Chases. Pratfalls. Bears.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Strong innuendo, verbal sexual references, stories about sex. A couple kiss in a car; she disappears below the seat to give him (implied) oral sex. Flirting. Panties shown. A married man resists flirtations.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Strong, fairly frequent language includes "f--k," "s--t," "p---y," "son of a bitch," "goddamn," "damn," "blow job."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

K-Mart is featured prominently in one sequence. A Google search is shown.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Minor characters drink and drive. A character is a recovering alcoholic. He has a bottle of whisky, but resists drinking it. References to getting drunk.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that A Walk in the Woods is a dramedy -- based on Bill Bryson's nonfiction book -- about two older men (played by Robert Redford and Nick Nolte ) who decide to hike the Appalachian Trail. Language is the biggest issue, with frequent uses of "f--k" and "s--t," as well as strong sexual references/innuendo and stories of sexual exploits. An amorous couple kisses while driving a car, and she disappears below the seat to (it's implied) perform oral sex. There's some flirting, and a man gets in trouble with a married woman's husband, who wields a baseball bat. Characters fall off ledges, there's some arguing, and bears wander into a campsite. One character is a recovering alcoholic and tells stories of being drunk; he carries a bottle of whisky, but doesn't drink it. Minor characters are shown drinking and driving. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (2)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 2 parent reviews

Great potential, but ultimately disappointing

What's the story.

After living all over the world, travel writer Bill Bryson ( Robert Redford ) finds himself back in the United States, semi-retired, giving inane TV interviews and attending one funeral too many. He decides to hike the 2000+ mile Appalachian Trail, despite warnings that he's too old and could die. His wife ( Emma Thompson ) agrees, on the condition that he not go alone; the only friend crazy enough to volunteer for the adventure is grizzled ex-alcoholic Stephen Katz ( Nick Nolte ). On their journey, the two hikers encounter everything from rain, snow, and mud to annoying fellow hikers, angry husbands, hungry bears, and tricky ledges. But they also find a few majestic places and quiet moments that remind them of what it means to be alive.

Is It Any Good?

While this movie could have been an overly earnest drama or an embarrassing slapstick farce, it settles somewhere comfortably in between. It's inconsequential, but it should please fans of codger comedies. Director Ken Kwapis , a veteran of TV series and lightweight comedies, mainly keeps things on an even keel. Even if Kristen Schaal (as an annoying hiker) and Susan McPhail (as a cheating wife) are witless diversions, the movie usually veers back on the trail quickly enough.

Potential dramatic pitfalls are handled lightly or simply left behind. The wonderful Mary Steenburgen plays a hotel proprietress who makes eyes at Bryson, and Katz has a close call with an alcoholic episode. The movie's strength is in the relationship between the two men, with Nolte's comically gruff performance providing the anchor. They sometimes argue and other times share memories, but their bond is largely unexplained and unspoken.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how A Walk in the Woods portrays its main characters. Why do you think there are so few movies and TV shows that feature older characters? Teens: Does seeing a mostly 60-and-up cast make you not want to see a movie? Why?

How does Nick Nolte's character deal with his alcoholism ? Does his method make sense? When is it OK for kids to watch movies with drinking, drugs, and smoking?

Do you think that the characters "cheated," or did they really get something out of their experience? What's the benefit of finishing the entire trail rather than experiencing part of it? Why is it important to try new things, at every age?

Movie Details

• In theaters : September 4, 2015
• On DVD or streaming : December 29, 2015
• Cast : Robert Redford , Nick Nolte , Emma Thompson
• Director : Ken Kwapis
• Studio : Broad Green Pictures
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Friendship
• Run time : 104 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• MPAA explanation : language and some sexual references
• Last updated : November 28, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

The Bucket List

Waking Ned Devine

Movies about friends, related topics.

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
• I Saw the TV Glow Link to I Saw the TV Glow
• The Idea of You Link to The Idea of You

New TV Tonight

• Doctor Who: Season 1
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• The Chi: Season 6
• Reginald the Vampire: Season 2
• Bodkin: Season 1
• Blood of Zeus: Season 2
• Black Twitter: A People's History: Season 1
• Pretty Little Liars: Summer School: Season 2
• Hollywood Con Queen: Season 1
• Love Undercover: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Them: Season 2
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Hacks: Season 3 Link to Hacks: Season 3
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All 46 Universal Monster Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

New Movies & TV Shows Streaming in May 2024: What To Watch on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and More

Weekend Box Office Results: The Fall Guy Debuts Below Expectations

• Trending on RT
• The Fall Guy
• The Idea of You
• Best Movies of All Time
• Play Movie Trivia

A Walk in the Woods

Where to watch.

Watch A Walk in the Woods with a subscription on Hulu, Netflix, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Amiable yet less compelling than any road trip movie starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte should be, A Walk in the Woods is ultimately a bit too pedestrian.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Robert Redford

Bill Bryson

Stephen Katz

Emma Thompson

Catherine Bryson

Mary Steenburgen

Nick Offerman

More Like This

Movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

site categories

How ‘the daily show’ is thriving post-trevor noah with return of jon stewart, revolving hosts and an election season – contenders tv: doc + unscripted, ‘a walk in the woods’ review: robert redford & nick nolte hit the trail for laughs.

By Pete Hammond

Pete Hammond

Awards Columnist/Chief Film Critic

More Stories By Pete

• ‘Unfrosted’ Review: Jerry Seinfeld Directs And Stars With A Comic Who’s Who Dishing Up A Hilarious Mad World Of Cereal Wars
• ‘Expats’ Duo Nicole Kidman And Lulu Wang On The Emotional Toll Of Bringing Novel To Life
• Nicole Kidman’s Big Night As She Receives 49th AFI Life Achievement Award

After having two smash hits together —  Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid ( 1968) and  The Sting  (1973) — Robert Redford and Paul Newman had often talked about reteaming but waited decades to finally find the right property. Redford, with his producer’s hat on, thought he had found it in the 1998 Bill Bryson book  A Walk In The Woods ,  which chronicles the late-in-life hike Bryson took on with a friend named Stephen Katz  along the 2200-mile Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, before the movie version could really get going, Newman became ill and died. Still Redford persisted with the project and finally landed a co-star, Nick Nolte . The result, as I say in my video review (click the link above), is at times very broad comedy and at other times a touching rumination on aging and living life to the fullest no matter how old you are.

Related Stories

'a walk in the woods' gala evokes paul newman & 'generosity' - sundance.

2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

The movie, which premiered in January at Redford’s Sundance Film Festival, is perfect fodder for Labor Day weekend where it opens in about 1800 theaters from new distributor Broad Green Pictures. Redford plays the retired Bryson who, much to the objections of his wife (Emma Thompson), decides to take on a dream hike along the Georgia-to-Maine Appalachian Trail. His efforts to find someone to accompany him hit tin ears until out of desperation he teams up with Katz (Nolte), the one guy willing to take the plunge. On the surface, this old friend is the complete opposite of Bryson, a bit of a philanderer who sees the trip as a way to evade his current troubles. He also doesn’t look like the kind of guy who would last a day on the trail, but appearances deceive and the pair take off on the late adventure of a lifetime, running into all sorts of obstacles and colorful characters along the way. It is fun to see both stars doing a light comedy like this in a movie that, in another era, might have been perfectly suited for a Bob Hope and Bing Crosby-style road picture.

Working with a script from co-producer Bill Holderman and Rick Kerb, director Ken Kwapis skillfully captures just the right tone along the way to make sure the picture doesn’t veer off into  too  broad a direction and fall off the proverbial cliff. In addition to the many lighter moments, there are some nice smaller scenes including one where this odd couple actually almost  does  fall off a cliff. Stuck there on a crevice they share thoughts on life and the earth around them that becomes a highlight of the film.  Redford and Nolte make the perfect pair who are always believable as human beings despite the shtick.

It’s very interesting to see how time has treated the two stars, at least judging by their appearances here. Redford hasn’t lost the movie star allure, while Nolte has clearly headed into character actor territory. Both prove adept at comedy. In smaller supporting roles are Kristen Schaal as an obnoxious hiker they meet, Mary Steenburgen as the warm proprietor of a motel they stop in, and Nick Offerman in a bit role as a guy who sets them up for their journey. Thompson in her few scenes that bookend the film is, as always, a welcome presence.  Redford, Holderman and Chip Diggins produced the film.

Do you plan to see  A Walk In The Woods?  Let us know what you think.

Must Read Stories

Red carpet photo gallery with zendaya, jlo, bad bunny, sydney sweeney & more.

Disney Nears Streaming Profitability Goal, Tops Quarterly Estimates

Wbd’s zaslav largely dodges questions about paramount sale, nba talks, ‘bob ❤️ abishola’ eps address series finale & cbs comedy’s lasting legacy.

Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy.

Read More About:

27 comments.

Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

A Walk in the Woods

Greg Lang (John Honeyman) Brendan Murray (Andrey Botvinnik)

Thierry Glyser, Adam Konowe

In the midst of the Cold War, two superpower arms negotiators - a Russian and an American - meet informally in a pleasant woods on the outskirts of Geneva after long, frustrating hours at the bargaining table. As the seasons change and their negotiations drag on, the pair continues their informal meetings, through which they develop a deepening understanding of their mission, and of each other.

Recommendations

Advertisement

Review: How ‘A Walk in the Woods’ lost its way

• Show more sharing options
• Copy Link URL Copied!

As “A Walk in the Woods” opens, Robert Redford, playing author Bill Bryson, suffers through a morning talk-show appearance. He smiles and nods and vaguely agrees with the clueless host without saying much as he is told various things about himself and his work. It is a moment of small comedy played with a broad edge and is the funniest, most genuine thing in the movie. From there on the film proves to be a slog.

One can imagine Redford himself having suffered through his share of similarly awkward interactions. He has apparently been interested in an adaptation of Bryson’s 1998 nonfiction book about attempting to hike the nearly 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail for some time. Redford initially thought it could provide a final on-screen pairing for himself and Paul Newman, until Newman’s health declined ahead of his death in 2008. Instead, Nick Nolte plays the role of Bryson’s estranged friend turned traveling companion Stephen Katz.

Directed by Ken Kwapis from a screenplay credited to Rick Kerb and Redford’s producing partner Bill Holderman, the story would presumably provide an opportunity for plenty of walking and talking, and in turn insightful, bantering exchanges on aging, friendship and the meaning of being a man in the modern world placed in pointed distinction to the natural setting of the forest trail.

SIGN UP for the free Indie Focus movies newsletter >>

If only. The film that emerges is based less in ideas and dialogue than in shtick and busy business, with Nolte in particular uncomfortably overplaying his way through, his rumbling, weathered voice now often sounding like some mixture of gravel and goo. Redford, who has never gone the way of full De Niro comedic mugging, desperately tries to bring an amused urbanity to his performance as counterbalance.

Bryson in the book is mid-40s; Redford will be 80 next year. Is the male psyche (straight American division) so locked off and the issues of manhood so essentially unchanging in that gap? Apparently so, though the movie is never interested in going too deep.

As with the recent chatter around “Ant-Man,” in which the sharp, fun film directed by Peyton Reed was endlessly compared to the phantom unmade version by Edgar Wright, who exited the project, it is difficult to compare the film made by Kwapis to those not made by other filmmakers. Yet one can’t help but imagine what previously attached directors Barry Levinson or Richard Linklater might have done with this material, with their affinity for scenes of drifting talk and hanging out.

Kwapis, who has a background in TV and has directed numerous features such as “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” seems ill at ease with letting scenes just play out. There is no meditative or relaxing aspect to the movie, as events are always being pushed to happen rather than allowed to naturally unfold.

The film has an uncomfortable look-at-these-yokels attitude toward everyone Bryson and Katz encounter along their way. Things reach a low point in an extended bit about Katz’s trying to hook up with a hefty woman he meets in a small town laundromat and running afoul of her pickup-driving husband. There is also a dismaying, dismissive attitude toward women — in particular a motormouth hiker (Kristen Schaal) the pair encounters on the trail — that goes unexplored.

Emma Thompson plays Bryson’s warm, witty and understanding wife, appearing early in the film only to largely disappear, unfortunately, once the pair is on its way. Here’s a rule: If you have Emma Thompson in your movie, use her.

The movie ultimately has little to say about masculinity and male friendship, more in line with the broad comedy of “Grumpy Old Men” or “Wild Hogs” than the headier insights of other films about men, nature and bonding such as “Old Joy” or “Land Ho!”

Despite Redford’s enthusiasm and best efforts, “A Walk in the Woods” is a tedious journey to nowhere special.

-----------------------

‘A Walk in the Woods’

Running time: 1 hour and 44 minutes

Rating: R for language and some sexual references

In general release

Follow me on Twitter at @IndieFocus and subscribe to my Indie Focus film newsletter

Wes Craven was a master of genre and reinvention

‘The Diary of a Teenage Girl’ is a rare film that explores female sexuality without judgment

David Foster Wallace role finds Jason Segel in his own moment of transition

More to Read

In ‘A Man in Full,’ Jeff Daniels plays a real estate mogul whose life crumbles. Sound familiar?

May 2, 2024

Review: Director Ken Loach’s compassion remains a sturdy, reliable virtue in ‘The Old Oak’

April 12, 2024

The art of film editing: ‘Try things out and see what works emotionally’

Feb. 15, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

Mark Olsen writes about all kinds of movies for the Los Angeles Times as both a feature writer and reviewer.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Company Town

Los Angeles Times’ former film critic Justin Chang wins Pulitzer Prize for criticism

May 6, 2024

We strap in with director George Miller, the ‘Mad Max’ mastermind, back with ‘Furiosa’

Entertainment & Arts

Less than spectacular box office start for ‘The Fall Guy,’ but there’s hope in the long run

May 5, 2024

Review: In ‘Wildcat,’ director Ethan Hawke — and daughter Maya — bring a literary life to screen

May 3, 2024

• What To Watch Next?

A Walk in the Woods

Two grumpy old men who need a new direction in their life decide to walk one of the longest and most dangerous hiking trails in america. but their fitness and their resolve will be pushed to the absolute limit. packed with amazing scenery and two legendary screen stars, this overly charming production has everything going for it but misses the target terribly..

A Walk in the Woods is the screen adaptation of the memoir by Bill Bryson. When he realizes that his life is becoming stale, Bill Bryson decides to set himself a challenge. Even though he is knocking on a bit, his overwhelming need for adventure gets the better of him. So, he decides to hike the 2200 mile long Appalachian Trail that passes nearby his home. No mean feat, for the fittest of people, but when his old friend Stephen Katz offers to join him, this epic journey is about to become significantly harder. Katz is a washed-up soul, with several warrants of arrest to his name. Will they die trying to complete the trail or kill each other.

Now, in recent years there have been a host of adventurous true stories that have made it to the screen with great success. For instance, Sean Penn's ‘Into the Wild' gathered a cult audience, as did the film ‘Wild' starring Reese Witherspoon . So, it's clear the A Walk in the Woods was clearly trying to pick up some of the same success. However, A Walk in the Woods falls way short of either of these films. The director, Ken Kwapis does a reasonable job with the incredible scenery. But, that's about it. The script is lame and the score is more like a TV production.

For me, the whole film felt a little self-indulgent. There seems to be a good reason for that. A Walk in the Woods is a long term pet project of Robert Redford. Redford clearly is a fan of the book and noticed the potential of the story. Originally he had wanted to produce the film starring himself as Bill Bryson and Paul Newman as Katz. But the project was shelved when Paul Newman became ill and sadly passed away. I have to admit, seeing Robert Redford and Paul Newman back on screen together would have been pretty amazing. Plus, the directors and screenwriters involved at that point would have done a much better job.

When Redford re-ignited the project, he still wanted himself to play Bryson. But, his choice for Katz turned to Nick Nolte. Now, this was a masterstroke, because Nolte plays the part incredibly well. He actually saves this film from being terrible. Robert Redford is ok but seems overly relaxed with his part. It appears that as executive producer, the director Ken Kwapis has limited to no power over his performance and it all feels a little smug from Redford. Between the two, Nick Nolte steals the show completely.

The other thing that carries A Walk in the Woods , is the supporting cast. Oscar-winner Emma Thompson ( Barney Thomson ) is cast as Bill Bryson's wife Catherine. Now she is as brilliant as always but is drastically underused. Comedian, Kristen Schaal is great as a deeply annoying hiker who the two men try to lose along the way. On top of this Mary Steenburgen, has a very odd part of a motel owner who seems for fall head over heels for Redfords Bill Bryson. She does well but the whole concept of adding such talent to play such an oddly scripted character is mind-boggling. Not to say that it is a little unbelievable that women along the trail seem to throw themselves at Bryson and Katz.

It looks like I am tearing A Walk in the Woods to pieces, but the big reason is that I really wanted to like this film much more than I did. As a big fan of Bill Bryson's books and his unusual dry wit, I really expected this to be a no brainer. But the result here is a film with so much potential, that falls disappointingly short.

Overall, A Walk in the Woods is an entertaining movie that is relatively funny. Especially, Nick Nolte and the supporting cast. It is worth a watch for an odd couple type of story in the wilderness. But if you are looking for a deeper wilderness adventure story I would look elsewhere.

Get ready for non-stop entertainment with access to thousands of popular movies and TV shows, including award-winning Amazon Originals. Plus, enjoy the convenience of FREE One-Day Delivery on millions of items. With the ability to watch anywhere and cancel anytime, you'll never have to worry about being tied down. So why wait? – Join Now

30-day free trial available.

• Apple TV brings you the future of television, right at your fingertips. Immerse yourself in the world of laughter, inspiration, and heartwarming moments with the critically acclaimed show, Ted Lasso, and a plethora of other captivating content.
• Star studded, award winning series and films.

• Welcome to a world of boundless entertainment, where thrilling stories come to life at your convenience. Amazon Prime Video invites you to explore a universe of gripping narratives, including the adrenaline-pumping series, "Reacher," and an extensive selection of captivating content that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
• Additional benefits of Prime Membership: Music Streaming Service, Amazon Photos and Exclusive Offers

• Delve into a world of original storytelling, where Disney's creativity knows no bounds. With Disney+ Originals like "The Mandalorian," "WandaVision," and "Loki," you'll witness new narratives and characters that expand the enchanting tapestry of the Disney universe.
• Great collection of Kids series and movies.

• Amazing Scenery.
• Great supporting Cast.
• Legendary Lead Cast Members.
• Nowhere near as Good as the Book.
• Self indulgent performance from Robert Redford.
• Old fashioned Crass Humor.

Related Items

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published.

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

WE VALUE YOUR PRIVACY

Privacy overview.

Advertisement

Supported by

Critic’s Pick

‘Evil Does Not Exist’ Review: Nature vs. Nurture

Ryusuke Hamaguchi follows up his sublime drama “Drive My Car” with a parable about a rural Japanese village and the resort developer eyeing its land.

• Share full article

By Manohla Dargis

Late in “Evil Does Not Exist,” a man who lives in a rural hamlet an easy drive from Tokyo cuts right to the movie’s haunting urgency. He’s talking to two representatives of a company that’s planning to build a resort in the area that will cover a deer trail. When one suggests that maybe the deer will go elsewhere, the local man asks, “Where would they go?” It’s a seemingly simple question that distills this soulful movie’s searching exploration of individualism, community and the devastating costs of reducing nature to a commodity.

“Evil Does Not Exist” is the latest from the Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who’s best known for his sublime drama “Drive My Car. ” This new movie is more modestly scaled than that one (it’s also far shorter) and more outward-directed, yet similar in sensibility and its discreet touch. It traces what happens when two Tokyo outsiders descend on a pastoral area where the spring water is so pure a local noodle shop uses it in its food preparation. The reps’ company intends to build a so-called glamping resort where tourists can comfortably experience the area’s natural beauty, a wildness that their very patronage will help destroy.

The story unfolds gradually over a series of days, though perhaps weeks, and takes place largely in and around the hamlet. There, the local man, Takumi (Hitoshi Omika), a self-described jack-of-all trades, lives with his daughter, Hana (Ryo Nishikawa), in a house nestled amid mature trees. Together, they like to walk in the woods as she guesses whether that tree is a pine and this one a larch, while he carefully warns her away from sharp thorns. A photograph on their piano of Hana in the arms of a woman suggests why melancholy seems to envelop both child and father, although much about their past life remains obscure.

Hamaguchi eases into the story, letting its particulars surface gradually as Eiko Ishibashi’s plaintive, progressively elegiac score works into your system. The company’s plans for a glamping site give the movie its narrative through line as well as dramatic friction, which first emerges during a meeting between residents and the company reps, Mayuzumi (Ayaka Shibutani) and her brash counterpart, Takahashi (Ryuji Kosaka). The company — its absurd name is Playmode — wants to take advantage of Covid subsidies for its new venture. During the meeting, it emerges that the site’s septic tank won’t be large enough to accommodate the number of guests; the locals rightly worry that the waste will flow into the river.

The scene, one of the longest in the movie, is emblematic of Hamaguchi’s understated realism, which he builds incrementally. The meeting takes place in a basic community center crowded with residents — some had dinner at Takumi’s home the night before — who sit in chairs facing the reps, who, armed with technology, are parked behind laptops and seated before a projector screen. As the reps play a video explaining “glamorous camping,” there’s a cut to Takumi intently watching the promo. The scene soon shifts to a tracking shot of deer tracks in snow and images of Hana playing in a field as a bird soars above; it’s as if Takumi were thinking of his joyful, distinctly unglamorous daughter. The scene shifts back to the meeting.

The site will become “a new tourist hot spot,” Takahashi sums up, badly misreading his audience. “Water always flows downhill,” a village elder says in response, his thin, firm voice rising as he sweeps an arm emphatically downward. “What you do upstream will end up affecting those living downstream,” stating a law of gravity that’s also a passionate, quietly wrenching argument for how to live in the world.

Lapidary, word by word, detail by detail, juxtaposition by juxtaposition, “Evil Does Not Exist” beautifully deepens. For the most part, the movie is visually unadorned, simple, direct. Hamaguchi tends to move the camera in line with the characters, for one, though the exceptions carry narrative weight: images of nearby Mount Fuji; a rearview look from inside a car at a fast-disappearing road; and a lovely traveling shot of soaring treetops, their branches framed against the sky. The canopied forest echoes an image in a short film by Masaki Kobayashi , who began directing after World War II; the title of his trilogy, “The Human Condition,” would work for every Hamaguchi movie I’ve seen.

I have watched “Evil Does Not Exist” twice, and each time the stealthy power of Hamaguchi’s filmmaking has startled me anew. Some of my reaction has to do with how he uses fragments from everyday life to build a world that is so intimate and recognizable — filled with faces, homes and lives as familiar as your own — that the movie’s artistry almost comes as a shock. The dreamworld of movies often feels at a profound remove from ordinary life, distance that brings its own obvious pleasures. It’s far rarer when a movie, as this one does, speaks to everyday life and to the beauty of a world that we neglect even in the face of its calamitous loss. When Takumi asks “where would they go,” he isn’t just talking about deer.

Evil Does Not Exist Not rated. In Japanese, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 46 minutes. In theaters.

Manohla Dargis is the chief film critic for The Times. More about Manohla Dargis

Explore More in TV and Movies

Not sure what to watch next we can help..

The Netflix stalker series “ Baby Reindeer ” combines the appeal of a twisty thriller with a deep sense of empathy. The ending illustrates why it’s become such a hit .

We have entered the golden age of Mid TV, where we have a profusion of well-cast, sleekly produced competence, our critic writes .

The writer-director Alex Garland has made it clear that “Civil War” should be a warning. Instead, the ugliness of war comes across as comforting thrills .

Studios obsessively focused on PG-13 franchises and animation in recent years, but movies like “Challengers” and “Saltburn” show that Hollywood is embracing sex again .

If you are overwhelmed by the endless options, don’t despair — we put together the best offerings   on Netflix , Max , Disney+ , Amazon Prime  and Hulu  to make choosing your next binge a little easier.

Sign up for our Watching newsletter  to get recommendations on the best films and TV shows to stream and watch, delivered to your inbox.