Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

A Walk in the Woods Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf January 23, 2016

An adaptation of a 1998 book by Bill Bryson, “A Walk in the Woods” is a travelogue that’s wide open for a two leading men to take command of the material and infuse the feature with considerable personality. Up for the challenge are Robert Redford and Nick Nolte, who team up to portray two older men crossing America on foot, learning about each other and themselves along the way. Teasing gooey sentimentality and metaphor, “A Walk in the Woods” is surprisingly impish, keeping encouraging distance from maudlin activities to transform into an R-rated romp through the wilderness, subverting expectations for a somber reflection on the fragility of life.

A respected travel writer entering his seventies, Bill (Robert Redford) is uncomfortable with thoughts of retirement and visits to funerals. Inspired to seek out adventure, Bill decides to hike the Appalachian Trail, a 2,200-mile-long trek northward that begins in Georgia. Wife Catherine (Emma Thompson) objects, but Bill remains determined to make the journey, agreeing to find a partner to help if disaster strikes. While everyone turns him down, Bill finds a taker in Stephen (Nick Nolte), a combative hometown friend from decades ago who’s eager to reconnect. Embarking on the six-month-long hike, Bill and Stephen receive a quick education on the energy required to make their daily miles, encountering fatigue, punishment from nature, and dismissive hikers as they slowly walk their way back home.

Although Redford has traditionally been drawn to tales of man vs. nature, he hands directorial control over to Ken Kwapis, the troubling helmer of mediocrity such as “Big Miracle,” “He’s Just Not That Into You,” and “License to Wed.” It’s an odd choice, as Kwapis has never shown interest in intensely cinematic offerings, but his light touch actually has a purpose here, with much of “A Walk in the Woods” avoiding naturalistic exploration to play like a lost Farley/Spade comedy from 1997. The idea of life as an unstoppable force is present, urging Bill into motion to help gain some clarity and test himself, but once Stephen enters the story, “A Walk in the Woods” largely abandons meditation to embark on a slightly raunchy, heavily salted odyssey that transforms the hike into an episodic collection of mischief.

There are plenty of aging jokes contained within “A Walk in the Woods,” as the screenplay isn’t willing to disregard Redford and Nolte’s senior status. Still, it’s a miracle the feature doesn’t beat the old geezer drum for the duration of the picture, getting knee replacement and loss of breath jokes out of the way to find stranger incidents to study. Along the path, Stephen and Bill run into an arrogant hiker (Kristen Schall) they’re forced to ditch, they encounter a pair of hungry bears, they suffer through time in a dilapidated lodge (breaking the bunk beds), and Bill encounters a flirtatious motel owner (Mary Steenburgen) who’s not subtle about her interest in the married man. Perhaps the most bizarre encounter is saved for Stephen, who picks up a willing, overweight woman in a laundromat, making a big deal out of her torn panties before being chased out of town by her rampaging husband. Also during this sequence, Bill, trying to get to a K-Mart across a busy highway, elects to walk under a bridge to play it safe, only to end up hip-deep in mud. “A Walk in the Woods” may be uncomfortably broad, but it’s rarely predictable.

Kwapis puts in a basic effort, saving glory shots for cliffside arrivals, while maintaining Bill’s commentary on the erosion of nature, adding a one-last-bang tilt to the movie as mortality is considered. There’s even an encouragingly confessional moment for Stephen, who shares the fight for his sobriety with Bill, bringing along a bottle of booze to remind him of past behaviors or provide a chance to revive them. And yet, for every carefully executed scene where the connection between the men is tenderly secured, there are oral sex jokes, F-words galore, and fecal matter burial jokes that keep “A Walk in the Woods” uncomfortably juvenile. Those expecting a slightly refined film from seasoned actors might be surprised by the feature’s crudeness.

A Walk in the Woods Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation certainly has a lot of cinematographic flavors to explore, winding through scenes of domesticity and travel. Detail is consistently interesting, and while sharpness is challenged by softer glamour photography, textures are still open for study, creating vivid moments with the aged actors in close-up and stretches traveling through nature. Colors are equally impressive, with a lean toward greenery adding impact to outdoor adventures. Costuming and decoration also add some pleasing hues. Skintones are natural (maybe not healthy, but natural). Delineation teases solidification at times, but frame information remains in view.

A Walk in the Woods Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a simple listening experience, but an immersive one. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and true, handling dramatic and comedic moments with care, always preserving performances. Scoring is crisp, with clean instrumentation, joined by smooth soundtrack selections that set the mood comfortably, adding ethereal touches when necessary. Atmospherics are active, exploring group activity in diners and hotels, while trail travel is rich with wildlife and flowing water. The track favors a frontal presence, but surrounds are present, pushing out music and distances. Low-end isn't insistent, but bear encounters and machinery add some rumble.

A Walk in the Woods Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "The Appalachian Trail" (4:31, HD) is a brief overview of the unofficial star of "A Walk in the Woods," spotlighting the community effort required to keep the trail in shape. Cast and crew interviews try to illuminate the natural wonders and challenges encountered during the shoot.

• "Take a Hike with a Legendary Cast" (3:19, HD) is an overview of thespian talents, with reverence paid to Redford and Nolte, while pleasantries are shared about supporting players.

• "Sounds of 'A Walk in the Woods'" (4:33, HD) is basically a commercial for the soundtrack, showcasing more modern musical selections to shine the effort up, with particular attention placed on the band Lord Huron.

• "Robert Redford's Call to Action PSA" (1:07, HD) catches up with the actor during the "A Walk in the Woods" press junket, sharing his thoughts on the importance of nature reserves and the shared responsibility to protect them.

• "Take a Hike Trail Tips" is an interactive map of the Appalachian Trail that provides a few stills and words of wisdom.

• Outtakes (2:31, HD) supply extremely mild mix-em-ups from the cast, mostly focusing on rambling improvisations and flubbed lines.

• And a Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

A Walk in the Woods Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

To its credit, "A Walk in the Woods" doesn't go to the one place everyone is expecting it to go -- an offering of restraint that helps aid ultimate digestion of the picture. Redford and Nolte's chemistry is hearty, with enjoyable, raspy interplay between the men that Kwapis wisely trusts to carry the movie. Sure, Nolte's skin is a dangerous shade of purple, but this is the most engaging he's been in quite some time. Star power saves "A Walk in the Woods," presenting leading men who can sell the majesty of America in motion, the pain of seclusion, the fight of bad habits, and the subtlety of a poop shovel sight gag.