Downhill [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray]

Julia Louis-Dreyfus Director: Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stefanie Azpiazu Nat Faxon

Overview

Co-directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's midlife dramedy is a remake of Ruben ?stlund's "Force Majeure." It stars Will Ferrell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Miranda Otto and Zach Woods. Pete and Billie (Ferrell and Louis-Dreyfus) are forced to re-evaluate their marriage and relationship after Pete abandons his wife and children when a controlled avalanche interrupts their family vacation at a ski resort in the Alps.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/19/2020
UPC:	0786936870688
Original Release:	2020
Rating:	R
Source:	Walt Disney Video
Region Code:	A
Sound:	[Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:26:00
Sales rank:	30,815

Special Features

Blu-ray Bonus Extras; Origins of the Film; Outtakes; Locations; Deleted Scenes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Billie
Ammon Jacob Ford	Emerson
Julian Grey	Finn Stanton
Giulio Berruti	Actor
Jono Bergmann	Ski Rental Kid
Peter Schorn	Grizzly Lift Attendant
Ferdinand Ramml	Photographer
Kimberly Rydell	Bar Woman
Anita Hafner	Partygirl
Matt Lindquist	Actor
Uli Richter	le gars au bar
Hauschka	Composer

Technical Credits

Nat Faxon

Jim Rash

Jesse Armstrong

Nat Faxon	Director,Screenwriter
Jim Rash	Director,Screenwriter
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Director,Producer
Stefanie Azpiazu	Director,Producer
Erik Hemmendorff	Producer,Executive Producer
Ruben Östlund	Executive Producer
Jesse Armstrong	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

Downhill is the epitome of an ordinary comedy. In a remake of Ruben Östlund's dark comedy, Force Majeure, co-directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash slowly plod their way through their best interpretation of the original. There is nothing terribly wrong about Downhill, and it does succeed in driving home a few major points, but when it is all said and done, it just feels like wasted time. The uncomfortable nature of this Sundance selected feature is where it simultaneously shines and flounders. The subject nature is inherently difficult to watch, as a seemingly happy couple takes a family vacation to the Alps, only to find that their façade of a marriage is hanging by a thread. Co-stars Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus do an admirable job of making the audience dislike them, but then again, how many movies with obnoxious characters are actually enjoyable? There is a struggle layered deep within Downhill, balancing the ingredients of an amusing dramatic-comedy and the tragedy of toxic marriage, which don't necessarily combine for the best experience. Pete (Ferrell) and Billie (Louis-Dreyfus) take a family ski trip to the Alps, to cope with the grieving of Pete's father's recent death. When a controlled avalanche goes awry, Pete, Billie, and their kids are right in its seemingly destructive path. Without hesitation, Billie puts her head down and holds her children, as Pete reaches for his phone and runs away. When the snow settles, and the traumatic event leaves everyone relatively unscathed, the family is left to deal with the emotional aftermath of a father who runs in the face of danger, and the marital implications that may have. Downhill's greatest success is in its tone, a testament to the passable acting and cringe-inducing dialog. Ferrell and Louis-Dreyfus do a wonderful job in crafting annoying characters, Billie as the no-nonsense, my-way-or-the-highway control-freak, and Pete, the cowardly yes-man who abandons his family in a time of crisis. Their interaction seems all too real, and the nature of their relationship is eerily unnerving. Yes, they are an unpleasant duo, but completely by design. Couple this with a picturesque backdrop, highlighted by some impressive camera work and beautiful mountainous setting, and makings of a decent picture are there. Nevertheless, the film fails in its overall delivery, really hampering the audience's ability to feel anything for these characters. The story is bland, and the direction relies too much on the boring human conflict and poorly written script. A marriage is unraveling before our eyes, metaphorically rolling downhill at a rapid pace, and the audience is left to wonder if they even care. The entire movie feels like Faxon and Rash are trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, and one cannot help but think that Downhill was mishandled from the start. By setting an awkward tone early on in its relatively short 86-minute runtime, Downhill never allows the audience to become emotionally attached to these characters; there is no one to root for, and there is no pay off when it is all said and done. Perhaps that is the point, as life and relationships aren't always going to be a satisfying cake walk, but being a comedy, Downhill sure could have told us that in a more entertaining way.