The film had its interesting moments but Witherspoon's horrible character she portrayed and the many flashbacks got in the way and interrupted the movie's flow. I found myself just not caring, liking or sympathizing with Witherspoon's character in the least. I mean, many people have rough, tragic lives but we all don't go off the deep end and become drug-addicted, foul mouthed, adulterous, disrespectful, promiscuous sluts. There is nothing noble or overcoming about this movie. It's a story about an unlikeable, mentally dysfunctional woman trying to resolve her problems by taking a hike. Instead of wasting 2 hours on this dog, I should have taken a hike away from my TV.

Reese Witherspoon is not an actress typically known for taking on serious roles, with most of her filmography dealing with comedies. Although the actress has had a few non-comedic roles in the past, most of them are not well remembered by this point. This biopic based on the emotionally riveting memoir by Cheryl Strayed, a woman who set out on a life-changing journey in 1995, grants Witherspoon with the grand opportunity to expand upon her acting muscles and expose a rarely open area in her talent. It is a biopic centered on a woman plaguing with tragedy, grief, hope, and redemption; and the story follows as this woman ventures on a quest at puts her physical and emotional stability to the test. Although the film may not reach the heights of cinematic mastery in terms of storytelling nor does it strike for anything special, there is plenty of talent to be witness in its near two- hour runtime. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallee, this movie follows the true story of Cheryl Strayed (played by Reese Witherspoon), a twenty-something year old woman strained by her rocky marriage with her husband Paul (played by Thomas Sadoski) and troubled by her dark past including the death of her mother (played by Laura Dern). Searching for hope, Cheryl sets out on an 1,100 mile hike from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Oregon where she discovers her inner being, while placing herself in path that will put on a physical and emotional endurance. The story of Cheryl Strayed is fascinating, especially when he brings up memories of the Chris McCandless story (whether you read the biography or watched the film 'Into the Wild') which took place just a few years prior to the events in this biopic. The film however, is not empty of dull moments which are likely to alienate viewers with low patience. The story here focuses on a woman who put herself on a collision course with self-discovery in attempt to tear away from her harrowing past which involved her abusive father, the untimely death of her mother, and her failed marriage. Along the way, she is forced to deal with the punishing atmosphere of the deserts while suffering from the scarcity of food and water. The story is frequently intertwined with flashbacks showcasing the happy days and dark days of her past, a storytelling method opens up to both the best and the worst of Nick Hornby's screenplay. While the flashbacks of her past greatly contribute to the three-dimensional construction of her character as well as the emotional backbone, the editing of these scene transitions can occasionally serve as a burden to the pacing. Director Jean-Marc Vallee keeps things moving, but at a slow momentum. Luckily, this does nothing to take away from the uncompromising performance by Reese Witherspoon. The actress shines in the role with astounding emotional resonance as well as exercising both of her physical and emotional range. Regardless of whether she is likable or not, it is hard not to sympathize with the heartbreak she suffers from and hopes of escaping her life of pain. Witherspoon's performance greatly pays off when she is sharing the screen with Laura Dern who is stupendous in the role of her late mother, who's screen time is limited in flashbacks. The relationship between the two shoots for an absorbing emotional spark that greatly fits the bill, and when the story dives into her death and the grief that follows, it safely avoids the pitfalls of sentimental contrivance. Now don't feel like this movie is a thing of darkness, there are some happy moments to be sparred. Wild is a poignant, yet inspiring biographical drama that shines with an riveting performance by its lead starlet and benefits with touching the heart with its powerful story. The film is not set to impress nor fascinate everyone, particularly those who are more inclined to faster-paced stories or something less melancholy. Nonetheless, it is filled with talent that should not be ignored.

When the credits rolled I asked myself: "Why have I just watched this film"? A young woman soul-searching after her mother's death ... OK, so Reese Witherspoon is very pretty, but it had to be more than that, and so it was. I think it helps that I backpacked myself - meeting a wide variety of eccentric characters in my journeys(but without the sex, unfortunately). I empathised with Cheryl; enjoyed the score and the cinematography. Plus, there was a bit of feel-good factor towards the end ... and what is wrong with that?

Quite simply, if you want jaw dropping action or revelations then this movie is not for you. I walked with her. Through the entire film. I was there. I saw her pain and felt it. It didn't have me sobbing into my hanky because it was not a pityfest. It was plain and simple. This woman wanted to change or die. I wanted her to make it. I watched her suffer and rage and fall to pieces. Then i watched her get up, dust off and take on another day. I was this woman and I wanted to make it to. Reese Witherspoon as always gave it her all. The only reason it dropped a point was some of the writing was far too small and squiggly for me to read so I had to pause it to check what it said. If you are feeling a bit lost or displaced or at a crossroads in life, give this a watch and see her STRYDE