A Walk in the Woods - Movie Review

Who's In It?

Emma Thompson, Robert Redford, and Nick Nolte


What's It About?

After taking decades from travel writing, Bill Bryson decides that it's time to get out and explore again - with the only person that will join, old friend Steven Katz.

Any Good?

I think the best way to describe this film is one of those movies that your Grandmother/Mother is watching when you go over to their house and you kind of half watch in conversation - and it kind of just sticks with you and you think of it every so often with no idea of what it was.

Characters were odd in this film, Robert Redford was like a radio presenter, about as wooden as Pat Kenny's hair with no real delivery beyond a morning radio hosts introduction. Numerous seemingly important characters just fall off the face of the planet, including one who seems to be a main character then just kind of.. goes. 

Flawless, like fine oak

Nick Nolte was great as Steven Katz, he's a big guy dressed like a bum with a voice battered by whiskey and the smokes, but he plays an actual funny character, not the trousers-around-his-ankles idiot type you get an idea of when you see him. Another good point of the film is some of the scenery, a lot of sets are beautiful - then some are just clearly oil paintings like in an old western.

Thinking back on the film, it really does feel like a much better Lifetime Movies joint that your parents/grandparents have on when you go to visit them, and that's not exactly a bad thing. An okay story, huge plot holes and a fantastic sidekick character of sorts make this film enjoyable, but nothing I'd go and pay to see.

Rating: