Review: Redford and Nolte in Bryson’s ‘A Walk in the Woods’

The lure of the wild has recently attracted an interesting batch of solitude seekers: Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”), Mia Wasikowska (“Tracks”) and Robert Redford, twice.

This photo provided by Broad Green Pictures shows, Robert Redford, left, as Bill Bryson, and Nick Nolte as Stephen Katz, in the film, "A Walk in the Woods." Frank Masi, SMPSP/Broad Green Pictures via AP

The lure of the wild has recently attracted an interesting batch of solitude seekers: Reese Witherspoon (“Wild”), Mia Wasikowska (“Tracks”) and Robert Redford, twice.

Two years after “All Is Lost,” Redford has swapped the sea for the woods, and wordless isolation for Nick Nolte. It’s not a bad trade.

“A Walk in the Woods” is a broad and congenial comedy about two aged old friends trying to hike all 2,000-plus miles of the Appalachian Trail, from Georgia to Maine. It’s light on its feet, even though its geriatric woodsmen are plodding and grunting.

This photo provided by Broad Green Pictures shows, Robert Redford (L), as Bill Bryson, and Nick Nolte, as Stephen Katz taking a break while hiking the Appalachian Trail in the film, "A Walk in the Woods." Frank Masi, SMPSP/Broad Green Pictures via AP