A Walk in the Woods

Apparently, Robert Redford has been fond of taking A Walk in the Woods for many years, originally envisioning it as a reunion vehicle for himself and Paul Newman.

That sounds better in theory than it might have played out in this adaptation of the 1989 comic memoir by Bill Bryson about his attempt to traverse the entire Appalachian Trail, which emphasizes the elements of geezer slapstick comedy over those about self-discovery or redemption.

Redford stars as Bryson, the veteran travel writer who decides to tackle the daunting 2,300-mile trail as a way of reconnecting with nature. His skeptical wife (Emma Thompson) knows she’s powerless to stop him, but at least insists Bill travel with a companion at his age.

After his friends reject the idea, he gets a call from Stephen (Nick Nolte), an alcoholic womanizer who traveled to Europe with Bill decades ago that led to a falling-out between the two. Still, he’s the only option, so off they go, for a bickering adventure that soon involves them falling in the mud, encountering vicious bears, camping in the snow, and various other shenanigans, before wising up and realizing that the pleasure lies not in the destination, but the journey.

Redford finds a sarcastic yet charming tone in his return to the great outdoors after being stranded at sea in All Is Lost. In real life, he’s five years older than the disheveled Nolte, but appears about 20 years younger in the film, which might have been only partially intentional.

The screenplay features some scattered amusing one-liners and sight gags, although its attempts at broad comedy too often feel like the characters are drawn around the pratfalls, rather than the other way around. In fairness, director Ken Kwapis (Big Miracle) captures some splendid scenery along the trail that at least should attract plenty of tourists.

The film needs more sequences like one in the final act, when Bill and Stephen are together on a quiet cliff, putting aside their differences to collectively muse about family, friends, aging and our place in the vast universe.

Ultimately, A Walk in the Woods requires such an outrageous suspension of disbelief — having us believe that these two curmudgeons could stand each other’s constant companionship for more than a few hours, let alone weeks or months — that such moments of heartfelt nostalgia become lost in the wilderness.

Rated R, 104 minutes.