September 5, 2015 -- This amiable comedy about two old friends on a hiking trip is brimming with wry, sometimes awkward, humor, laced with a bit of pathos as the two old hikers discover they are over the hill on the Appalachian Trail.

This hike has very little of the real life grit of last year's hiking movie, “Wild.” This is played as a sometimes heavy-handed comedy about two guys who know that the end of life is a lot closer than the wild days of their youth. They are very different, these two men.

One, Bill Bryson (Bill Bryson wrote the book on which this movie is based. He is played by Robert Redford) is educated, urbane and witty. His hiking partner, Stephen Katz (played by Nick Nolte of “Gangster Squad”) is earthy, hedonistic, crude, honest and direct.

Bryson and Katz raised a lot of hell when they were young. They went on benders and chased women. Katz is still chasing women, but Bryson has settled down with his British wife of many years (played by Emma Thompson). Hard living has caught up with Katz, who quit drinking after a bad car accident. Bryson has lived a more cautious and ordered existence in his later years and feels superior to Katz. Later in the trip, however, he begins to wonder if Katz isn't right. Maybe he should be more adventurous and take more chances.

At one point in the trip, Katz challenges Bryson, asking him if he is really happy. Bryson avoids answering the question, claiming it isn't important. But it is important, Katz replies, but then, the moment slips away, one of many dead ends in this film. There is a reference to the possibility of the tents used by these two not being “all weather tents” prior to a snow storm. That comedy ball is dropped. An encounter with an overzealous REI outdoor equipment salesman (played by Nick Offerman) appears to be another mishandled opportunity. Ditto for Bryson's encounter with a pretty motel owner (played by Mary Steenburgen).

Instead of sharp comedy and more insight into these two men, we get broader situational comedy skits, physical comedy and a skin deep view of these two personalities, pregnant with undelivered possibilities. The movie never really takes advantage of this material.

Despite all that, enough of the comedy works. I laughed a lot at the wry wisecracks. Redford and Nolte work so well together that I liked joining these two guys on this trip. It is an amiable, easygoing hike with a couple of interesting characters that I liked a lot. I would have liked the opportunity to know them a lot better. This film rates a B.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

Copyright © 2015 Robert Roten. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at .