If you’re expecting a rip-roaring Will Farrell comedy, “DOWNHILL” is not for you…
“DOWNHILL” instead is the Americanization of the 2014 Swedish thriller “FORCE MAJEURE” by Ruben Ostlund.
What we end up with is a (somewhat) biting, dark dramedy that desperately tries to inject goofy laughs into a marriage story that is skating on thin ice.
As the story goes, an American family—Will Ferrell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and their two sons—are off on a ski vacation to the Austrian Alps.
The upscale resort seems perfect—at least upon arrival. Every luxury one could ask for. Except the resort’s front-desker whose typecast welcome is somewhat over the top.
But everything is fine until the family is suddenly overwhelmed by a controlled avalanche which not only comes close to killing them, but sends shock waves through their relationship.
Why?
Because Farrell freaks out during the incident and cowardly leaves his family in an almost fatal harms’ way.
A most selfish personal trait that now raises more questions than there are answers for in their marriage.
The snow covered scenery of the Alps is certainly forgiving for some of the film’s seemingly forced and stiff performances. And a brief interlude between Ms. Dreyfus and an Italian ski instructor adds a certain amount of spice to the proceedings.
On the whole though, “DOWNHILL” is a long way from what it COULD have been and is, in one word, disappointing.
Checking my watch after the film’s screening I noted to a fellow critic that the movie was barely 90 minutes long.
“Seemed like three hours to me,” he shot back.
Touche.
“DOWNHILL” grades a: C
