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“I’m curious and I love being curious” says Robert Redford’s Bill Bryson in this thoughtful and humorous biopic. This adaptation of Bryson’s 1998 memoir of his walk along the Appalachian Trail with his friend Stephen Katz (Nick Nolte) captures the eagerness with which Bryson starts the approximately 2200 mile hike – a feat we learn only 10% of people actually complete. At the start of the film, plagued by a fear of growing old and becoming irrelevant, Bryson decides to embark on this journey and takes Katz on at the behest of his wife (Emma Thompson).

The trail itself is as much a central character of the film as either Bryson or Katz. Ken Kwapis really shines as a director by making the film very visually impressive. The stunning cinematography is reminiscent of a David Attenborough documentary and often stops both the characters and the audience in their tracks. The soundtrack is similarly appealing, occasionally nodding towards Redford’s past as the Sundance Kid with Western-sounding riffs and melodies.

The film captures much of the same kind of dry, witty humour for which Bryson is known, executed perfectly by Redford’s deadpan expression and intellectual, sharp responses. He is perfectly complemented by Nolte’s disgruntled, deadbeat Katz. Nick Offerman, Kristen Schaal and Mary Steenburgen all appear in cameo roles, and serve to flesh out both the main characters and the relationship between them. Katz and Bryson each have a  very different sense of humour, but as they bond on their hike through misfortunes and achievements, they soften towards each other.

As they progress on their journey, they realise they also share the same fears of old age and mortality. This is where the film falls short. The theme of mortality and old age is (understandably) a common one among films with older actors. Throughout the film, many scenes feel as if they are building towards some great revelation or epiphany, leading to more anti-climactic situations than there should be in a film with such a high standard of source material and high calibre actors.

In spite of this, the film as a whole is a beautiful and humorous journey that really captures both Bryson’s adventure and the beauty of the trail.