WASHINGTON — Who could have guessed that a pair of hiking biographies would cross genres to provide some of the more compelling Hollywood character studies of the past nine months?
Last year, Reese Witherspoon earned a much deserved Oscar nomination by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Jean-Marc Vallée’s dramatic adaptation of Cheryl Strayed’s 2012 novel “Wild.”
Now, Robert Redford and Nick Nolte hike the Appalachian Trail in the buddy comedy adaptation of Bill Bryson’s 1998 novel “A Walk in the Woods.”
Bill Bryson (Robert Redford) is an aging author who decides to hike the Appalachian Trail — mostly to prove he can still do it. His skeptical wife (Emma Thompson) worries he won’t come back alive — especially when his overweight, former alcoholic friend (Nick Nolte) decides to tag along. Together, they set out on the trail, searching for the fountain of youth, venting their life’s regrets and learning to appreciate the journey more than the destination.
Like his heavy hiking pack, Redford straps the film right onto his legendary back and carries it. The man is truly one of our greatest treasures, whether it’s his performances — “Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid” (1969), “The Sting” (1973), “The Way We Were” (1973), “The Natural” (1984) — his directorial efforts — “Ordinary People” (1980), “A River Runs Through It” (1992), “Quiz Show” (1994) — or his undeniable film industry contributions, namely founding the Sundance Film Festival.
His co-star was originally meant to be Paul Newman, but the Butch to his Sundance passed away before the project got off the ground. Still, Nolte creates a worthy foil, playing the lovable fool to Redford’s straight man in a case of “Grumpy Old Men” with walking sticks. While Nolte has put on considerable weight since “Cape Fear” (1991), “The Prince of Tides” (1991), “Affliction” (1997) and “The Thin Red Line” (1998), he has begun to use his new gruff status to his advantage, landing a third Oscar nomination in “Warrior” (2011) and now mining it for charm in “A Walk in the Woods.”
Thompson appears in far less of the film, showing up in the beginning and end as a bookend voice of realism amid the male hope springs eternal. It’s been 20 years since her Oscar wins for “Howards End” (1992) and “Sense & Sensibility” (1995), but she continues to find ways to reinvent herself. What beautifully ironic casting to play the writer’s wife this time around, having shined in recent years as determined authors in “Stranger Than Fiction” (2006) and “Saving Mr. Banks” (2013).
Such ironies are not lost on director Ken Kwapis — Emmy-nominated alum of TV’s “The Office” and “Malcolm in the Middle” — who keeps the film’s compass pointing toward its lighthearted, buddy-comedy core. Amusing gags involve everything form Kristen Schaal’s annoying camper to Mary Steenburgen’s motel owner, building all the way to a “Butch & Sundance” style cliff sequence.
Despite the laughs, “A Walk in the Woods” is also admirable in its character studies, meditations on aging and observations on the wonders of nature. It reminds us just how small we are in the grand scheme of things, as the two men take in the enormity of the world around them.
The film’s strengths — and flaws — are summed up when the two men share a “whiskey on the rocks,” though not in the way you might expect. After pouring their hearts out, Nolte says, “Well that was a little moment. A little too dramatic. I almost immediately regret it,” to which Redford responds: “Such is life.” It’s almost as if the movie regrets its own emotional beats, settling for a “such is life” mantra.
But while it’s too predictable to completely wow you — certain gags like collapsing bunk beds are eye rollers — it’s an altogether pleasant experience for fans of these three consummate performers. After watching the film, you’ll want to put away your cellphone and spend your time gazing at nature — and to me, that’s a win.
★ ★ 1/2
The above rating is based on a 4-star scale. See where this film ranks in Jason’s Fraley Film Guide. Follow WTOP Film Critic Jason Fraley on Twitter @JFrayWTOP.
