by Jarred Tito
It was quite refreshing to see a grand cast of ‘yester-year’ Hollywood ‘A list’ movie stars lined up to take on a movie project that most adults facing retirement could relate to on some level. It is quaint and honest, simple and believable, thoughtful and inspiring. I should also include in that list, sobering. Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson, Kristen Schaal, Mary Steenburgen and Nick Offerman together make up the cast for this ‘Adventure comedy biopic’ which is based on a book of the same title by Bill Bryson
Robert Redford, who will always be in my mind, ‘The Sundance Kid’ from the western classic with Paul Newman ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’, plays the lead role of Bill Bryson who heads to the American outback to fulfil possibly his final ‘man adventure’ in the wild
Bryson is inspired at a funeral which he attends with his wife, Emma Thompson, to consider hiking the Appalachian Trail. His wife objects and presents to him all kinds of reports of accidents and obstacles which eventually leads to him connecting with a long lost but life friend Stephen Katz played by Nick Nolte, who offers himself as hiking companion. It appears that Stephen is well passed his used by date, but claims to be up to the task
The two companions set out on their adventure which is scheduled to last a period of up to 6 months which seems daunting but somehow doable. But like a bucket list that cannot be denied the adventure must be done and like all good adventures, theirs leads them into a varied range of obstacles which are not always to do with the trail
A light and humorous film that will have you breathless at some of the very spectacular views and trails. Though no one here would be expecting any kind of acting awards for this picture, there are still some very good performances. It was great to see Redford and Nolte in a movie again and I must say they made a good pair