This the true story of Cheryl Strayed who hiked over 1,000 miles across the Pacific Crest Trail. I didn’t hate this the way that it seems many critics & IMDB users did. I thought it was pretty great in some ways actually. It’s a well made film. It’s beautifully shot. I liked the scattered flashback approach to slowly reveal Cheryl’s backstory and character over the course of the film.
What didn’t quite work for me was the overall character arc. I wasn’t sure if the character actually learned anything from her experience. The journey was compelling and not “slow” as many critics said but at the end, she just seemed calmer, like the distance and silence of the trail had brought some peace but not much else. I guess I just didn’t understand the conclusions she drew from her journey in the voice over.
The big highlight here is Reese Witherspoon’s performance. She is “stripped bare” quite literally in both clothing at one point and also her soul. It’s good acting for sure. Very believable. Not my favorite female role of the year but I can definitely see why she received an Oscar nomination. The wrap up wasn’t strong enough for my taste. Recommended for anyone who likes strong female characters and the outdoors.