A Walk in the Woods
Starring Robert Redford, Nick Nolte
Directed by Ken Kwapis
Wily veterans Robert Redford and Nick Nolte embark on a journey to hike the famous Appalachian Trail and bring Bill Bryson’s bestseller to the big screen in A Walk in the Woods. Redford plays the celebrated author while Nolte, in a role originally envisioned for Paul Newman, portrays his old buddy Stephen Katz, who joined the writer after Bryson reportedly couldn’t get anyone else to accompany him on the adventure.
Those familiar with Bryson’s seasoned prose may be disappointed in the film’s screenplay, which mines more for laughs than introspection. However, some quiet moments of Redford musing on the state of the natural world add a welcome break from some of the pratfalls. One of the big questions answered here is – can Nick Nolte actually still act? After churning out a powerful, albeit small, role in 2011’s Warrior, the grizzled performer manages to succeed here with some solid comic timing, chemistry with Redford, and just enough pathos to give A Walk in the Woods some depth.
That being said, the film is not an awards contender and is often rather silly. An annoying hiker with a penchant for singing Daft Punk, played by Kristen Schaal, and the inevitable ‘falling into the river’ sequence offer mild amusement, but genuinely funny moments, such as Nolte seducing a woman in a laundromat, generally work well and set a breezy tone.
In the end, A Walk in the Woods may amount to nothing more than a jaunty stroll but it never overstays its welcome.
