MPR's Movie Maven Stephanie Curtis joins Steve Seel and Jill Riley to talk about a new film based on the best-selling book by Cheryl Strayed.

Wild stars Reese Witherspoon in a screenplay adapted by Nick Hornby (Fever Pitch, High Fidelity, About a Boy). Witherspoon plays Strayed, a Minnesotan whose mother died when Strayed was in her early 20s, setting her on a spiral of self-destructive behavior. Deciding to start anew, Strayed embarks on a three-month hike along the Pacific coast.

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée (Dallas Buyers Club), the film uses flashbacks to tell the Strayed's story. "He's created something impressionistic rather than a biographical film," Stephanie says.

Stephanie also praises the acting of Witherspoon as well as Hornby's adaptation. "I really, really liked it," Stephanie says. "It's a great movie, and I think people should go see it. … The way [Vallée] blends the action and the dialogue brought book to life. … Although he makes it look like it's a miserable thing to be in Minnesota in the winter."

Wild is rated R and is playing at the Landmark Uptown Theatre in Minneapolis, and is expected to go into wider release.

MPR's Movie Maven, Stephanie Curtis, joins The Current's Morning Show to talk about films every Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Related

• Wild - official site