Read Mixed User Reviews for Wild

6

netflicDec 28, 2014

This movie is based on a popular auto-biographical book with the same name written by Cheryl Strayed. After her mother got cancer and passed away at 45, Cheryl got depressed and her life was in downward spiral – cheating on and divorcing herThis movie is based on a popular auto-biographical book with the same name written by Cheryl Strayed. After her mother got cancer and passed away at 45, Cheryl got depressed and her life was in downward spiral – cheating on and divorcing her devoted and loving husband, sleeping around, using drugs etc. Whether she was thinking how to extricate herself from this predicament, or not, but one day she bought a book “Hiking the PCT trail” and decided to do it, without prior experience, ALONE.

You put yourself in a physically demanding situation day after day, and it will clear your mind and clean your soul.

As she comes to the end of her 1,000 miles journey, she is ready to start a new life. It might sound trite, but anybody who’s ever hiked a long distance will attest that this is true – the healing power of the beauty of the surroundings, of the camaraderie with other hikers, and of the clear goal.

Reese Witherspoon does a nice job playing Cheryl, cinematography is quite decent, but I think the movie focused too much on what brought Cheryl to the sorry state of her situation, and not why the long and exhausting journey helped. Maybe because there were too many flashbacks of Cheryl's life, and it to some extend ruined the flow of the movie.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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4

rmartusaFeb 2, 2015

Initially I had no interest in watching this movie until Reese Witherspoon was nominated for best actress, full disclosure I am not a Witherspoon fan, I think she is highly overrated. So as a big fan of the Oscars I make a point of seeingInitially I had no interest in watching this movie until Reese Witherspoon was nominated for best actress, full disclosure I am not a Witherspoon fan, I think she is highly overrated. So as a big fan of the Oscars I make a point of seeing every nominated film with the thinking maybe she can pull off an Oscar winning performance. I did not agree her first Oscar was worthy.

Not only is this a terrible movie, which makes me wonder how these kinds of films get made with uninteresting plots and characters. I did not care about this storyline or the characters, the trail hiking was mildly interesting but this film is so bad that any great actress could not have saved this film certainly not the overrated Reese Witherspoon!… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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5

mariopingDec 8, 2014

Wild: It's almost impossible not to compare this film to Into the Wild from a few years ago. I loved Into the Wild. I found myself very drawn to the central character in the film. Wild, unfortunately not so much. I don't know why. Films areWild: It's almost impossible not to compare this film to Into the Wild from a few years ago. I loved Into the Wild. I found myself very drawn to the central character in the film. Wild, unfortunately not so much. I don't know why. Films are subjective. I can only tell you why I think I couldn't get myself into the film: Reese Witherspoon is a great actress. She proved it in Walk the Line, Election, and even Legally Blonde. Unfortunately, she was too Reese Witherspoon (in my opinion) the hollywood star in Wild. I didn't see the character Cheryl Strayed. I saw Reese Witherspoon throughout the film. Nothing personal as I still think Reese is a great actress, just didn't anything for me in this film.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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6

j3015Jan 29, 2015

The movie 'Wild' is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's self discovery memoir "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.". Cheryl Strayed, played by Reese Witherspoon, is a narcissistic, divorced, drug-addict who decides to go onThe movie 'Wild' is an adaptation of Cheryl Strayed's self discovery memoir "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.". Cheryl Strayed, played by Reese Witherspoon, is a narcissistic, divorced, drug-addict who decides to go on this 1,000 mile trek to heal herself from all her self-destructing behavior. Her adventure consists of flashbacks and the people she meets along the way. Bobbi Grey (played by the excellent Laura Dern) is a balancing force in the movie, not just for the viewers, but for the central character as well. Despite terrific performances by Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern, it feels like we've been down this path before. Into the Wild comes to mind. The film could have been a disaster. The pacing is brutal in some areas and the life lessons come across as something you'd find in a fortune cookie.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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5

LynDec 26, 2014

I admired Cheryl Strayed's book very much -- the sheer harsh honesty of it. The movie does a pretty good job conveying the pain that drove her to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, through some nicely done flashbacks. Still, I had a hard time withI admired Cheryl Strayed's book very much -- the sheer harsh honesty of it. The movie does a pretty good job conveying the pain that drove her to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, through some nicely done flashbacks. Still, I had a hard time with Witherspoon in the lead role (and she is on screen virtually every moment). Cheryl Strayed the author actually is attractive, but it's hard to make a "real person" out of Witherspoon's perky, porcelain-skinned perfection merely by mussing her hair. I would love to have seen what an actress like Saoirse Ronan might have done with the part.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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4

5thStFreddieDec 25, 2014

It's a testimony to how bad movies have become that the allegedly good movies are so bad. This is Reese Witherspoon walking 1,000 miles without changing expressions except when she loses a toe nail. It's a text book example of one way notIt's a testimony to how bad movies have become that the allegedly good movies are so bad. This is Reese Witherspoon walking 1,000 miles without changing expressions except when she loses a toe nail. It's a text book example of one way not to use FLASHBACKS - trying to build drama in the past because you can't make the effort to build any in the present. There's no real drama or conflict with anyone she meets or anything she does in the present. It's a solid "C minus" in the pantheon of great hiking movies. If you want to see how this should be done, watch Sean Penn's marvelous "Into the Wild" where one actually cares about the whacky guy who gives up everything for - the Wild. Wild, this isn't: MILD would be a much more appropriate title.… Expand

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5

JamesLDec 25, 2014

This film is all hype and no delivery. Instead of focusing on the demons that necessitated the hike, we focus on the hike which is purely bland material. You can predict everything that will happen on the hike and it is rather boring exceptThis film is all hype and no delivery. Instead of focusing on the demons that necessitated the hike, we focus on the hike which is purely bland material. You can predict everything that will happen on the hike and it is rather boring except for the scenery. The film need more of the flashbacks that explored the demons not prissy Reese hiking up the trail. This is not a daring or breakout film as advertised. We were sold a bill of goods on this.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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6

duncan1964Feb 13, 2015

The true story of a woman walking the Pacific Crest Trail in order to find her way back to the woman her mother always thought she could be, sounds like a hippy dippy 60's throwback that would try the patience of the average moviegoer. InThe true story of a woman walking the Pacific Crest Trail in order to find her way back to the woman her mother always thought she could be, sounds like a hippy dippy 60's throwback that would try the patience of the average moviegoer. In actual fact it's a heart-warming character study of a woman trying to get het life back on track that works because of a standout performance from Witherspoon and a smart script from Nick Hornby. What the film does lack is a certain amount of dramatic weight, with the arduous journey passing with little incident, the characters past never seeming that terrible and her drug rehabilitation coming across as a little too easy.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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6

lasttimeisawMay 29, 2015

After consummating “McConaissance” in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013), Jean-Marc Vallée’s next step is another star-vehicle biography, Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, a young woman embarked on a 2,650-mile hike of Pacific Crest Trail fromAfter consummating “McConaissance” in DALLAS BUYERS CLUB (2013), Jean-Marc Vallée’s next step is another star-vehicle biography, Reese Witherspoon plays Cheryl Strayed, a young woman embarked on a 2,650-mile hike of Pacific Crest Trail from Minneapolis, Minnesota to the Bridge of the Gods connecting Oregon and Washington in 1995. The aim of her journey is to detoxicate herself from her past bad habits of promiscuity and heroin addiction which had encroached her entire life after the untimely death of her mother Bobbi (Dern) and had already destroyed her marriage with Paul (Sadoski).

keep reading my review on my blog, google: cinema omnivore, thanks… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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4

csw12Jan 15, 2015

Despite some nice scenery of nature the film too often becomes an unemotional bore that continuously uses flashbacks that offer nothing but random chopped up scenes. Reese Witherspoon was nothing special and neither was the movie.

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5

NightReviewsDec 7, 2014

It seems like there is no better way of finding yourself, than by losing yourself completely.

Such is the case with Reese Witherspoon’s newest feature Wild, based on the widely popular New York Times Best Seller and Oprah’s Book Club 2.0It seems like there is no better way of finding yourself, than by losing yourself completely.

Such is the case with Reese Witherspoon’s newest feature Wild, based on the widely popular New York Times Best Seller and Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 favourite “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” written by Cheryl Strayed.

Wild is based on a memoir, and Strayed did in fact trek the whole 1,100 mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail all by herself, and tells a compelling story of survival, wit and true courage, but never is her story original enough for us to really care. Overplayed images of crossing bridges, promises of clean slates and new life, as well as images of iconic natural beauty and wildlife, are some of the reasons Wild never quite settles in with audiences, as it should.

Witherspoon, who dropped out of Tim Burton’s Big Eyes (a role that eventually went to Amy Adams) may have found another passion project and Oscar-caliber character as Strayed. Embodying a troubled young woman who struggled with heroin, constant adultery and the tragic death of her loving and inspiration mother Bobbi (played saintly by the radiant Laura Dern), Witherspoon easily transcends through the screen and into our hearts as a highly empathetic character. Is Strayed a drug addict? Sex addict? Rehabilitating feminist? Many of these questions aren’t really answered by the film’s end or in the countless flashbacks (that easily takes up an alarming amount the film’s runtime) of Strayed highly traumatizing and delicate life, which poses some of the many problems of the film as a whole.

Quebecois filmmaker and go-to Oscar caliber actors-director Jean Marc-Vallée, who helped Matthew McConaughey complete his A-List status as Ronald Woodruff in the highly appreciated Dallas Buyers Club, helms Witherspoon in a highly clichéd and simple narrative where a woman’s only choice and answer for change, is nature. Cue scenes of Strayed connecting with the wildlife by howling with the nearby wolves, numerous shots of her looking up and talking to herself as well as some of the most over-quoted identity passages ever written by Emily Dickenson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and of course Robert Frost, and Wild sinks in the footsteps of other memorable identity finding nature films.

One film in particular that comes to mind, released just last year, is John Curran’s Tracks starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver. Not only does the film tell the story of Robyn Davidson, an author and true living bohemian who conquered the 1,700 mile journey along the west Australian deserts with four camels and a trusty sidekick canine, but Curran offers audiences an audacious and highly inspiring symbolic film filled with deep purpose, meaning and thought. Absent of all the highly Americanized gloss, including; narration, heavy-drama flashbacks and distracting pop culture references found in Wild, Tracks tells the story of a woman who suffered harsher condition, during a lengthier hike with less help from the outside world. By watching both films, it becomes clear that Wild is a film that reaffirms America’s obsession with keeping stories of Americans more relevant than individuals internationally, sadly.

Witherspoon may have delivered the performance of her life as Strayed, a woman who seems to overly dramatize the tragedies in her life by taking drastic measures. Strayed, whose life could have easily been made into a soap-opera miniseries, had the huge privilege of having her book connect with many housewives and identity-riddled middle aged women who found hope and purpose through the pages of her memoir, giving the film adaptation traction and leverage. Witherspoon, who in addition to starring in the film, acts as the films producer as well, transforms herself to a thin Strayed whose conquests from California to Oregon push the bodily limits of a highly tormented and dumbfounded character whose purpose of the quest is questioned repeatedly and given no due sympathy based on her lack of commitment to really anything at all in her life.

Thankfully, the film isn’t all that bad. One of the many strengths of Wild that isn’t ever understood or put into perspective in other films is its ability to relate to many of the average audience members who would ever think of doing such a journey. Vallée sets-up perfect scenes of hiking preparation that blend perfectly with Witherspoon’s mix of humour and daft seriousness, such as her first encounter with a backpack that is twice her height and triple the size of our protagonist. At some points in the beginning of Strayed’s journey, we can’t help but notice Witherspoon resemble a white-washed, patriotic version of Dora the Explorer with her handy-dandy backpack and all the useful things inside it (condoms included, if you could believe it), making someone who is just undeniable to relate to.… Expand

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5

Beowulf4862Dec 19, 2014

Since she is tiny enough, it would have interesting if she bumped into Bilbo and the dwarves on a mountain trail. Otherwise, this seems like Witherspoon's "Monster"-like bid for an Academy Award. It's a game try, but I'm not sure that ReeseSince she is tiny enough, it would have interesting if she bumped into Bilbo and the dwarves on a mountain trail. Otherwise, this seems like Witherspoon's "Monster"-like bid for an Academy Award. It's a game try, but I'm not sure that Reese has all the pieces.… Expand

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4

ScribeHardDec 14, 2014

The great challenge in adapting someone’s story for the screen is that the filmmakers might not do the story justice. Vallée did great things with Ron Woodroof’s story in Dallas Buyers Club, a film similar to this one in that it is a trueThe great challenge in adapting someone’s story for the screen is that the filmmakers might not do the story justice. Vallée did great things with Ron Woodroof’s story in Dallas Buyers Club, a film similar to this one in that it is a true story of a protagonist with a reckless past who goes on to something loftier. Unfortunately,Vallée doesn’t have that magic in him again.

I don’t know Strayed’s book, but given the fact it made it to print in the first place, and given the positive comments I’ve heard from friends, tells me there is a pretty good story there. Wild isn’t that story.… Expand

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4

CelticViewJan 25, 2015

Boring, boring, and...triple boring. A load of nonsense really - the backpack thing, just plain stupid, and obviously empty during many scenes. It beggars belief that some found this firm to be something other than plain silly and vapid.

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4

pesho_oneApr 11, 2015

Yes, the bag is heavy, we got it the first time around. But fifteen minutes in, it seems, this is still the main thing going on with the plot. This is one really slow, quite boring, unfocused mess of a non-picture. Go watch the news orYes, the bag is heavy, we got it the first time around. But fifteen minutes in, it seems, this is still the main thing going on with the plot. This is one really slow, quite boring, unfocused mess of a non-picture. Go watch the news or whatever on the TV instead. It is that bad.… Expand

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6

moonman1994Dec 28, 2015

Although Witherspoon gave a great performance at the end of the movie you find yourself asking the question: "Did Cheryl really learn anything?" Other than the monologue at the end there was no instance when you found yourself believing thatAlthough Witherspoon gave a great performance at the end of the movie you find yourself asking the question: "Did Cheryl really learn anything?" Other than the monologue at the end there was no instance when you found yourself believing that Cheryl was truly ready to turn her life around. Along the hike she even seems to make similar mistakes to the ones that sent her there. On top of this flaw the editing is very poor. It constantly switched from present to flashback. The switches were so quick (and at times unnecessary) that they muddle the timeline and the plot. If half of the flashbacks were cut they could have maintained effectiveness and power but they occur so frequently any sort of effectiveness is lost. Overall great acting by Witherspoon, acceptable directing, but poor editing and poor storytelling. 6/10… Expand

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5

BshopDec 28, 2014

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I usually judge movies on the takeaway - the message - of it all. What strikes a chord here? What can I apply to my everyday life?

Did not read the book, so no bias either way.
In this movie, I was left a bit disappointed, the message was sort-of there around the second act, but then vanished in the third. (First act being beginning to fox discovery, second act being fox to Crater lake, third being Crater Lake until finish).
Great scenery and lots of characters (most creepy guys pursuing her - which seemed a bit much). From hiking experience, there could have been less of the people and more of the solitude (because 99% you are by yourself - in the moment hiking alone, working toward the goal).
It started to be about resolution, moving on from destructive attitudes and behaviors that were ruining her life, but then she doesn't really get over Paul (ex-husband) and Bobby (her mother) in the end.

In summary, worth a rent. If you like movies about self-discovery (closest here is Eat, Pray, Love) and don't mind the nudity (there are few instances smattered throughout), it is a good film with great scenery.
The message gets lost here, wish it would have been a resounding "I will change, I'm moving on" but I was not left with that message.… Expand

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5

oDjentoFeb 6, 2015

I thought this film was really quite average and that kinda saddened me. Reese Witherspoon wasn't too bad in it but i don't know if it was oscar nomination worthy, however i haven't seen too many other leading actress movies. WitherspoonsI thought this film was really quite average and that kinda saddened me. Reese Witherspoon wasn't too bad in it but i don't know if it was oscar nomination worthy, however i haven't seen too many other leading actress movies. Witherspoons character basically goes out on a (about) 1000 mile long trail to walk and i suppose clear her head and get things straight: or perhaps also enlighten herself. The thing that makes this film average is that she doesn't really look like she accomplishes/gains anything, and that makes it a kind of dissatisfying watch. For this i would give it a bad score but instead i'm giving it an average score as i find some of the direction in it very well done and i enjoyed the support roles too. Conparing this to "Into the Wild", this one is to give a pass as there is no sense of her gaining or accomplishing anything, whereas in "Into the Wild" the guy in it (SPOILER FOR INTO THE WILD) ends up dying and still seems to achieve and realise more. This was a pretty average film overall.… Expand

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4

moviejudyJan 14, 2015

On my devices I had filed
You must go see the movie "Wild."
This film, regarding Cheryl Strayed Left me feeling quite betrayed. Her hiking on the P.C. trail Made me feel quite old and frail. Her spunkiness held no allure, SheOn my devices I had filed
You must go see the movie "Wild."

This film, regarding Cheryl Strayed
Left me feeling quite betrayed.

Her hiking on the P.C. trail
Made me feel quite old and frail.

Her spunkiness held no allure,
She should have had a pedicure!

No showering week after week
Was she a masochistic freak?

I tried with Reese to form a bond
But kept on thinking of "Legally Blonde."

She's way too cute to walk so far
Why didn't she just take her car?

I'll never recommend this flick
It's by no means my favorite pick.

The flashbacks jarred my fragile nerves
I can't stand rattlesnakes or pervs!

Rotten eggs I shall not throw
But I won't be back to see this show.

Sorry, Reese, but you're run of the mill
And next time, bring some Vagisil.… Expand

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6

yardashJul 17, 2015

Genel ortalamanın altında bir not verdim onu da hikayenin bazı yerlerinde anlatıma dair küçük farkları beğenmemden dolayı. Burada filmlere dair ayrıntılara girmiyorum ki izleyenlerin heyecanını ve yeni bir şeyler keşfetmelerine engelGenel ortalamanın altında bir not verdim onu da hikayenin bazı yerlerinde anlatıma dair küçük farkları beğenmemden dolayı. Burada filmlere dair ayrıntılara girmiyorum ki izleyenlerin heyecanını ve yeni bir şeyler keşfetmelerine engel olmayayım. Ancak her ne kadar gerçek bir hikayeden alınmış bir film olsa da bir kefaret seferi veya başka bir değişle bir tür Hac yolculuğu olarak da yorumlanabilecek konusu ile aslında çok da yeni bir şey söyleyen bir film olmadığını söylemeliyim. Boş vakit değerlendirmesi olarak bir kayıp diyemesem de heyecanla mutlak izleyin de diyemeyeceğim...… Expand

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5

BiasSep 14, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Apparently this was based off a true story. While watching it I was confused about why in the world did having a Mom die turn her into a crackhead. Obviously having a close loved one die is absolutely terrible, but the connection wasn't there, resulting in me feeling very little empathy for her horrible treatment towards her husband, or her -what seemed like-over-the-top drug problems. Perhaps reading the original story of this woman's life would have made it much clearer, but the film sure didn't.

If I put the narrative in more chronological order it would look like this: Reese was a goody-two-shoes kid in what became a single mother household. Her mom was great. Her mom died from cancer, slowly and painfully. Reese got married. Reese lost it and started messing around with other people and using hard-core drugs. They got divorced because she was a horrible wife to the husband. There's another person in her life after this, some ambiguous lover/older sister type, and its confusing. She goes on a long hiking trip to find herself. Near the end, she finds the Mother of Dragon's ex-boyfriend in Oregon of all places, does him, and writes her ex-husband's name in the sand. Then she says she's over him now. Poor guy.

Anyway, I do kinda want to hike the PCT now though.… Expand

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