In this book adaptation based off a true story, Reece Witherspoon stars as a young woman named Cheryl Strayed, who sets out on a three month journey throughout the west coast in the hopes of gaining closure over the death of a loved one as well as the end to her marriage of seven years. Looking to honor her mother’s death and find a way to heal, she makes the decision to hike along the Pacific Crest Trail; leaving behind the years she spent indulging in reckless behavior in an attempt to numb herself of the pain that accompanied her overwhelming grief.

Along the way she meets several different people, some of whom urge her to quit and others who encourage her to keep going until she makes it to the end. She reads over letters written to her by those closest to her, finding in them the courage and support she needs to keep going, and mulls over inspiring quotes to remind her of her reason for taking up some a daunting challenge in the first place. As she treks through the deserts of California and the mountains of Oregon, she reflects back on the memories of her mother before she died- both the good and the bad- and begins to forgive herself as well as come to terms with what was out of her control.

Between flashbacks of the years leading up to the tragedy that changed her life and prompted her to travel a thousand miles alone, Cheryl’s road to recovery is shown through her refusal to give up and the buildup of emotional and physical strength within her as she encounters different obstacles on her perilous journey.

Although her voyage is in no way easy, she faces the difficulties head on and ultimately learns how to move on and live on with only the memory of the person who had the most positive impact on her life.

Overall, the movie was a thrilling story from start to finish, with a solid, satisfying ending. The actors chosen to portray the characters were extremely fitting; making the story more relatable and believable. Each scene was presented realistically, there was no lack of excitement or suspense, and a balanced blend of humor and seriousness served to leave a lasting impression on the audience.