Picknick mit Bären

I went to see this movie today, having read the original book by Bill Bryson and subsequently listened to a hilarious 'audio book' version narrated by Kerry Shale.

My first comment is that Robert Redford is just too old, way too old, for the part. By my estimate, Bill Bryson was less than 50 when he walked the trail with Katz, whereas Redford is 78. It made a big and substantial difference to my enjoyment of the movie, since a lot of the humour in the book comes from the fact that it's two middle-aged slightly overweight guys who start the walk, not two old men.

Furthermore, I found Emma Thompson's portrayal of Catherine Bryson simply irritating and humourless. Like Robert Redford, I felt she just turned up and did her lines.

Many of the best anecdotes from the book appear in the movie, and yet somehow none is anything like as funny as in the book/audio book. For example, the overweight nasal-sounding Mary Ellen segment just isn't as funny in the movie not least because the actress playing Mary Ellen is not overweight and therefore her jibe at Katz for being overweight misses the joke.

Overall, the movie was light and amusing in places, but bad casting and uncommitted acting makes it just average and with a heavy heart I rate it just 6/10. And trust me, I went in with fairly low expectations yet hoping for a good laugh. It was worse than I expected and not as funny as I'd hoped.

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.

I really wanted to see A Walk in the Woods.I should have known better. Bill Bryson is my favorite author and A Walk in the Woods is one of my favorite Bryson books.I know how movie makers take the printed word and turn into something totally different on the screen. So it is with this film. I really couldn't recognize anything about this movie.This really should have been call Grumpy Old Hikers. I suppose that if I had not associated the movie with the book,I should have enjoyed it a great deal more.My wife thought is was a wonderful movie but she has never read the book.

For me the biggest problem was that I thought Redford was totally miscast as Bill Bryson. He makes Bryson a kind of judgmental, holier then thou, snob. Nolte as Katz is very amusing as a crusty old Iowa coot with an overactive libido and he takes the comedy honors. Mary Steenburgen has a nice little turn as a MILF motel owner named Jeannie who gives Bryson the eye. Emma Thompson is totally wasted as Mrs Bryson. Sandra Ellis Lafferty has a short but hilarious bit as Jeannie's widowed mom who develops an immediate sexual fixation on Katz.The rest of the cast is unmemorable.

I can't recommend this movie. I was just too disappointed in it.

Okay, this movie isn't great art, but it's delightful, funny, filled with veteran actors (Nick Nolte, Robert Redford, Mary Steenburgen, and Emma Thompson who, as usual, is absolutely perfect for the part she plays. I loved it because I'm not a hiker, and I truly felt every bit of resistance that Nolte's character expresses to being out in nature while on foot. There are many, many lines that made me laugh out loud. I am not a laugh-out-loud person generally and I didn't read the book, so I don't know whether Bryson is responsible. I am also resistant to feel-good movies but this was definitely in that genre. I've always loved Nick Nolte and am sad that he has become so obese, but his innate attractiveness made me forget how misshapen he is. Definitely (contrary to at least one reviewer's claims) there was a lot about mortality. Definitely (contrary to a couple of reviewers' claims) there is a plot and there is a destination (I say this as a published novelist and short story writer, as well as a former teacher of creative writing). I suspect this movie appeals more to people of a certain age—it certainly appealed to me.

I enjoyed this film. No politics, no pandering, just light humor involving two old codgers doing something really stupid. It's a good and relaxing watch with a strong cast led by Redford and Nolte.