User Reviews

I liked the idea and the main actors were pretty good. The scenery for the second half of the movie was lovely. Some of the minor actors acting was terrible, but luckily weren't on screen long. I didn't care for the score at all, but maybe that's a personal thing. Overall it's a nice flick with a good message.

The first 15 minutes of the movie made me really excited. I started doing research on the writer/director/main character hoping that things would continue along the same trajectory: fast food-eating loner finds himself in the wilderness because he's dragged kicking and screaming along a treasure hunt.

Then it unraveled: Cheesy folk music, extra long exposition over smartphone video chat, and the nature porn. I like the outdoors and Yosemite is great and all, but I felt like the creator of this film had a good idea and then didn't really do anything bold or interesting with it.

Now, there's so much potential here. Honestly. And I have no idea how hard it is to make a movie. I hope the director keeps working on perfecting his craft because he's got something going, just not with this particular film.

If you, or someone you know, longs to get outdoors, smell some fresh air, have adventures your friends want to hear about, discover some unforgettable views but think that you just don't have it in you to make that looonnnggg or dangerous hike like you see on NatGeo, think again! You don't have to be an "outdoor warrior" to access areas that are some of the most cherished in the American West. Or, in your own state's backyard, per the movie's message. Your guide is a person just like you, Joe (the lovable Tom Huang), a M-F desk-jockey accountant in slump after his divorce.

This independently made film I screened at festival has what the tent-pole blockbusters don't, characters that feel, sound and look like real people that you'd want to hang out with. The story resonates with topics that need to be discussed more (like why it's important to protect and preserve our natural world and parks for all to enjoy) without being preachy.

Tom's work BFF, Amelia, the lively ying to his very reluctant yang (played by the effervescent Sara Amini) takes Tom under her wing by sparking his curiosity and compassion to "Find her," after a surprising plot twist. You feel yourself wanting to do the same for your own friends possibly stuck in life's rut. You root for Tom and Amelia to find their happy places and resolve what troubles them by getting out and getting some perspective - ultimately getting MORE out of the LIFE they have been given. This is a great movie to watch which will inspire you to explore your nearby world outside your (admit it - boring) routine. You and your friends won't be sorry you did!

Kind of a fresh and interesting plot, well acted by the female lead. The lead actor also directed and wrote the screenplay. He's passable as an actor, uneven as a director and his dialog leaves a lot to be desired.

That being said, he makes a noble effort. Probably would have benefitted from just directed, casting a more capable male lead and getting some assistance from a screenplay specialist.

Worth a watch but as another reviewer commented, can be awkward in some parts.

Beautiful scenery, good job on the character development before the story takes off.

A bit off the beaten track for a biracial love story but dramatic and well told. Credible acting by Tom Huang and Sara amino.

I'm gonna be brutally honest. This entire film feels like a high school project that somehow managed to get a budget for good camera equipment. It's kind of a cute movie, but that's mainly because everything from the acting, to the music, to the camera shots, to the writing, is just painfully cheesy and lacking any kind of subtlety. I don't want to discourage whoever made this from continuing in the creative industry as this clearly is done by a fairly inexperienced crew, but as a movie it's really hard to call this good or entertaining. It markets itself as a movie about the national parks, but 90% of the scenes are just focused on the socially awkward and terrible acted main character. The huge and beautiful panoramas are sorely lacking, while there is a way way way too strong focus on the boring and clichéd plotline. This film could've strongly benefitted from more b roll shots of the incredible nature and less of the extremely awkward dialogue. Good luck on your next project, I'm sure you've learned a lot from this!

Gave this a 9 because it is one. Only an idiot expects a garage production to compete with a mega-millions Hollywood vehicle.

With that established, the writing is good, the acting better than amateur, the cinematography patently better than you'd expect in this kind of project. I had no difficulty watching it start to finish, which is often not the case with micro-movies. (And I watch a lot of them.)

Nice to see an Asian-American main character who's just A Guy. Except his Chinese accent sucks. Seriously Tom, I could do better than that, and I'm white. But in context that made it even funnier, and contributed to the character's development.

Anyway, see the film. Remember who made it, and how. And enjoy.

I don't want to give a bad review or insult the team of people who worked hard to make this film for no reason. All i have to say is, sorry, it's just not my type of movie. That's all.

So what!, they had to truck all this equipment to crazy place and make it work. Felt real natural to me. Great direction Tom Haung, and good cast. This film has inspired me to do those hikes. Thank you for making it.

I forced myself to watch, it didn't make me curious enough to watch to the end.

Okay, this is not a big budget production and no big name cast members but, bottom-line, the movie was totally engaging from start to end. It is a slow paced movie which some people might not like but the characters are totally believable, the dialogue is great and the story plausible.

In an odd way the real star is the scenery and perhaps the cinematographers are the real heros here. You are taken to a number of incredible places and the camera crew did a superb job of catching the wonder of each location.

I tend to like what I call "quiet but intelligent" movies and this definitely fills the bill.

The dialogue was ridiculously dumb and cheesy. The soundtrack was distracting and unbearable. I didn't know cinematography could be so amateurish in such a beautiful place. And the acting was far from good. That said, I don't want to discourage anyone who worked on the film because this was a low budget movie and it was an interesting concept.

Inspiring film that makes me want to hit some trails and explore the beauty of planet earth. Sara Amini is outstanding in this! I had to look her up on here to see what else she has done. Great job! Tom Huang..not the best actor but I really appreciate him putting this film together. As an avid hiker I was really feeling the whole premise. I also really felt the scene where he's arguing with his ex in the car and he pulls over and says.."I think I'm finally ready to listen". It seemed like a really honest, genuine moment. The whole film is something to be proud of. Thank you.

If you don't like this film better work on filling your soul.

My review is more of an interpretation of the film's message. Life is short , get out of your box & see the world! Just lost my 5 year old Chocolate Lab Oliver to bone cancer. I was going to take him with me to see America's Beauty. Now he'd want me to find another dog to share my life with. So l will rescue another dog and make sure his life is special . That is what we are here for, to make a difference and positively impact others .

I Am in remission 10 years now and this movie reminded me not to waste another day. I just got back from Yellowstone and I did Zion last year. Next year Yosemite and then maybe Iceland.

True hidden gem

"be a traveler, not a tourist" in life.

A film that make one realuse how many things there are in the world still too see, and how little time we have to see them. Despite all the tribulations that surround us there is plenty of beauty in the natural world. This was a surprising find. Just a really nice little low budget movie about a boring but loveable guy and a silly girl who gets him out of his comfort zone. It's touching and heartwarming, and those kinds of movies are rare these days.

Enjoyable to watch. Some humor. Scenic landscapes and a great message.

Have a peaceful watch.

I didn't expect to cry so much at the end of this movie! My favorite movie is Into the Wild so off the bat I was deeply interested. I'm an avid adventurer and wilderness backpacker so it spoke to me on many levels. I thought it would be an ordinary movie about someone escaping office life - a commentary on how capitalism restrains us, but it was so much more than that. The editing was a little odd at points, but the actors were all great.

For an independent film with a small principal cast, I was amazed to have enjoyed this. Like Joe, I've felt immense pressure to help loved ones or to survive in hectic office environments.

The scenery of the national parks and the character development were unparalleled. We see pure emotion but also.light hearted moments. This also had me reminisce about times I went camping and hiking, which were moments where I tried to figure out my life path and understand the world around me.

The soundtrack was hit or miss and the writing could have been a bit stronger, but I was on board with the movie's concept the entire time.