>Sigh< Where to begin with A Walk in the Woods? The film has been a passion project of Robert Redford's for more than a decade, and the actor once had hopes of starring in it alongside Paul Newman. That never developed, and for a time Richard Linklater eyed the director's chair before moving on to other projects. Along came another veteran actor in Nick Nolte to take the co-starring role, and eventually Ken Kwapis (Big Miracle) took over as director.
Based on Bill Bryson's cherished memoir, the story centers on two old friends, long estranged, who decide to hike the 2100-mile Appalachian Trail. So it's another one of those walkabout films, only this one deals with two guys who are long past their prime, and one is an overweight alcoholic. It also means the story relies heavily on the chemistry between the two stars, and while Nolte and Redford work well together neither is really suited to slapstick comedy, which is about all this film offers. Not my favorite Sundance movie, no.
A Walk in the Woods opens September 2nd.
