one of my all-time favourite films is sean penn's into the wild
a true story of a college dropout going awol and hiking into alaska
that film aided very much by a great soundtrack from eddie vedder
so my first reaction of hearing about this one was - it better be good
this a true story also - so - similar premise - similar title - i'm skeptical
reece witherspoon on lead acting and producer duties - she well into it
she plays the part of cheryl strayed - the subject of a book now this film
first seen clambering to the top of a tall peak and unloading her bulky pack
boots off to reveal bloodied feet and oops - knocks a boot off into a long drop
tantrum - the other boot thrown after it - hmmm - that seems unlikely - skeptic
and back in time we go - she then shown being deposited at the start of the trek
struggling big-time with the fully loaded pack - it looks just too staged for me
but she persists and heads off admonishing herself for the folly of her plan
and back further - she then shown as a late teenager at home with mom
played by laura dern - the mother/daughter relationship looks plausible
bobby (mom) is also studying in an attempt to improve her lot in life
in rocks cheryl's younger brother and a mate - mom starts cooking
bobby is a bundle of apparant happiness - which annoys cheryl
'we''re fucked mom - how can you be so happy' - cause i have you
then jump back to the pct - pacific crest trail - and a 'day 1' sub-title
cheryl struggles to pitch her tent, has the wrong gas - another tantrum
and another flash-back - this time to the final day of her relationship
an amicable parting of the ways with paul after 7 years - he's over it
seems she has cheated on him - lots - her real personality coming out
and so it goes - trail, flashback, trail, flashback - time equally split
the early days on the trail announced one by one as she settles in
along the way she encounters other trekkers and small town people
she bums a ride and then a meal with a farmer and his obese wife
so not exactly into the wild - and the music - a few snatches only
not sure about this film - nothing too revelatory happening so far
another flashback - mom has cancer - so 2 distraught children
she dies in hospital - cheryl's reaction - drugs and sex - lots
scenes of both - shooting up heroin and implied hard-core
a relief to get back on the trail then - ah - redemption - got it
the mandatory wildlife scenes - rattlesnake, coyotes and bugs
cheryl handling the snake but screaming at the bug - such a girl
encounters with men always suggesting sex is their priority
only fellow naive teenage boy trekkers seem harmless males
even the good-looking kind-hearted chap she meets beds her
conclusion - men are shallow - and cheryl has deep issues
95 days later and she reaches trip's end - bridge of the gods
the celebratory el condor pasa tune now played loud and long
as she stands looking out her voiceover announces her future
happily married - couple of kids - all is good in her world
right - thanks - one very rushed ending to this 2 hour film
and of course the slideshow of the real cheryl then shown
similar looks - same t-shirts, same tattoos - take a bow reece
seems like one last pitch for authenticity - this woman is real
ok - but still not very likable - i mean - she took a long hike
maybe in the land of obese and lazy that is of significance
but - no empathy from me - for her or for her country
this film makes outback america even less appealing
and damn the title - wild - ah - i see - that's her
but tamed by nature - cute - but not deep
sorry reece witherspoon - very average
sean penn's film still top of the heap...
