Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, who wrote the book about her 1000+ mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail in an attempt to reverse her disastrous life (including a ruined marriage and heroin addiction). The movie alternates between numerous outdoor challenges and reflections on her past. It works on both levels and is absorbingly told by director Jean-Marc Vallée (“Dallas Buyers Club”). The scenery is expectedly lovely and the complex sound design adds an almost trippy layer to her journey. This double-edged “adventure” is continually compelling, but not as emotionally rewarding as you’d expect. NOTE: Look for the real Strayed in an early cameo as she drops her movie star version off from a truck.
(4 / 5)