A Walk in the Woods (2015)

After spending two decades in England, Bill Bryson returns to the U.S., where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends.

Director:

Ken Kwapis

Writers:

Michael Arndt (screenplay) (as Rick Kerb), Bill Holderman (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, Emma Thompson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Bill Bryson
Nick Nolte	...	Stephen Katz
Emma Thompson	...	Catherine Bryson
Mary Steenburgen	...	Jeannie
Nick Offerman	...	REI Dave
Kristen Schaal	...	Mary Ellen
R. Keith Harris	...	Sam Bryson
Randall Newsome	...	TV Host
Hayley Lovitt	...	Donna
Linds Edwards	...	Darren
Susan McPhail	...	Beulah
Andrew Vogel	...	Young Hiker #1
Derek Krantz	...	Young Hiker #2
Gaia Wise	...	Becca
Tucker Meek	...	Grandson

Storyline

In this new comedy adventure, celebrated travel writer, Bill Bryson, instead of retiring to enjoy his loving and beautiful wife, and large and happy family, challenges himself to hike the Appalachian Trail - 2,200 miles of America's most unspoiled, spectacular and rugged countryside from Georgia to Maine. The peace and tranquility he hopes to find, though, is anything but, once he agrees to being accompanied by the only person he can find willing to join him on the trek - his long lost and former friend Katz, a down-on-his-luck serial philanderer who, after a lifetime of relying on his charm and wits to keep one step ahead of the law - sees the trip as a way to sneak out of paying some debts and sneak into one last adventure before its too late. The trouble is, the two have a completely different definition of the word, "adventure". Now they're about to find out that when you push yourself to the edge, the real fun begins.

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Plot Keywords:

hiking | appalachian trail | hiker | friendship | backpacking | 

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Taglines:

This Labor Day, Take a Hike

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 September 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

A spasso nel bosco

Filming Locations:

Fontana Dam, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,400,000, 6 September 2015, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$29,467,855, 29 November 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Route One Entertainment, Wildwood Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Larry Charles was also previously attached to direct.

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Goofs

The room number Redford went in was 122 (left) and Nolte went in 121 on the right. After Nolte's trouble with Beulah's husband, Redford was pounding on room 123, and 122 was still on the left.

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Quotes

Bill Bryson: Why don't you go out and talk to the guy, huh? I'm sure he's reasonable.
Stephen Katz: That's your plan?
Bill Bryson: [chuckling] I don't need a plan. I'm not being chased.

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Connections

Referenced in Half in the Bag: 2015 Re-Cap (So Far) (2015)

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Soundtracks

I Don't Care (Just As Long As You Love Me)
Written by Buck Owens
Performed by Dwight Yoakam
Courtesy of New West Records, LLC
By arrangement with Sugaroo!

User Reviews

Relating in my 40's

Although the characters portrayed are probably older than me, I could relate to aspects of combining nature, friendship, and fresh air that goes along with hiking anywhere. I am an outdoors-man and I knew I would like this movie like I did, simply because of the hiking, camping, and philosophical air. Of course, the actors made the movie even more enjoyable for me as I thought about past entertainments from this crown and began to remember how they made me laugh in the past and take life in strides and enjoy. I recommend watching this movie simply to inspire people to step out of their normal routines once in while, get a level set, and remember to enjoy life versus stress over it all of the time.