Robert Redford and Nick Nolte star as best friends, whose mission is a trip of life clarity to the Appalachian Trail, in “A Walk in the Woods”. Bill Bryson (Redford), opts out of retiring to enjoy his loving and beautiful wife (Emma Thompson), and happy family, challenges himself to hike the 2,200 mile trip through the rugged countryside from Georgia to Maine. The peace and tranquility he hopes to find is anything but, once he agrees to being accompanied by the only person he can find willing to join him on the trip;  his long lost and former friend Katz (Nolte), a down on his luck slacker 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. “A Walk in the Woods” is a lot like the two men in question on this journey. It starts off energetic, complete with a lot of nice comedic banter between the two male leads. But as the movie reaches the midway point, it starts to tire on it’s journey of experimental slapstick situations, as well as a distracted script that veers of the path of clarity one too many times. Despite it all, there is nothing terribly wrong with this movie. I laughed several times louder than any film that i have been through this Summer, and i think that’s all a testament to the kinds of Odd Couple opposites that Redford and Nolte can deliver. Where the film really opens some eyes is in it’s ability to be a crossover success with all age groups. The older audience will enjoy the ideals and effects of growing old and taking one last challenge before it’s too late, and the younger crowds can appreciate some R-rated humor with a side of educational wisdom out to prove that this is anything BUT a stroll through the park. I do wish the film would’ve focused a little more on the sentimental aspect of the two friends though. We don’t learn much about their pasts, just some random stories told through the usual Nolte incoherrent grumblings. The film has some solid life lessons, but i think it could’ve meant more if we found out how close these two used to be. I mentioned earlier that the film ventures off during a couple scenes, and this doesn’t seem to happen for any other reason except to spice up the reactions of these men. It almost feels like that scene in “Grumpy Old Men” when Matthau and Lemmon prank each other back and forth in a game of can you top this. During these scenes, there’s not nearly enough mention of the trails or even where they are at to remind the viewer just how far they have left. What saves these distractions from ruining a worthy effort from Director Ken Kwapis, is an ending that is not only unexpected, but offers the biggest obstacle to the men in their journey. It all happens at the right time, and the viewer won’t be able to help but wonder what happens next. On top of it, Kwapis has a nice eye for gorgeous landscapes and ideal shooting locations to show us some of the worst conditions that the trail can offer. He never puts the cart before the horse, and the horse is definitely the comedic banter between Redford and Nolte. Sometimes, a film can succeed with just that. “A Walk in the Woods” isn’t built for long distance, but it does offer a hilarious speed round sure to get the ab muscles burning in joyful delight.

6/10