“Downhill 2020” is a dark comedy about a family on vacation in the Swiss Alps. After witnessing an avalanche, the family’s dynamic quickly crumbles and they are forced to confront their own fears and insecurities. Will they find solid ground or be buried by their own emotional snowball? The film explores the unpredictable nature of human relationships and the fragile balance between love and survival.
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Review
It was a bright Wednesday morning when I sauntered to the cinema to watch the much-lauded film, “Downhill.” Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, and starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell, it was an adventure I was eager to embark upon.
The plot of the movie revolves around the marriage of Billie (Louis-Dreyfus) and Pete (Ferrell), who take their two sons on a skiing trip to the gorgeous Austrian Alps. On the second day of their trip, they are caught in an avalanche that almost kills them. However, their escape from death unveils deep-seated issues in their marriage that have remained unaddressed for years.
The storyline is an adaptation of the 2014 Swedish film entitled “Force Majeure,” by Ruben Ostlund. The directors chose to Americanize the story to make it more relatable to American audiences.
I must say that Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ acting chops were incredible! She portrayed Billie’s vulnerability as well as her strength with precision and humor, which are trademarks for her in any production she is in. Will Ferrell was also exceptional as Pete; he depicted his character’s guilt with such authenticity that it left me rooting for him till the very end.
During its production, news circulated that Zack Woods was initially supposed to play Fergus (Zach Woods). However, when he could not make time for it due to his commitment to Silicon Valley, they offered it to Julian Grey instead.
There were some notable scenes that stood out for me; one of them occurred towards the middle of the movie where Billie is seen crying alone on a ski lift ride up a mountain while enjoying some beautiful scenery. It reminded me of how therapeutic nature can be in times of crisis.
Another scene occurs after dinner when Pete gets drunk and tells Fergus about what happened during the avalanche. It was a humorous moment which lightened the mood of the movie.
The music score, done by Volker Bertelmann, was impeccable. The music created an ethereal atmosphere that fit the picturesque backdrop of the Austrian Alps.
In terms of popularity, it seems that “Downhill” did not quite meet expectations as it only grossed $8.7 million against its $16 million budget. This could be attributed to its limited release in theaters and the impending COVID-19 pandemic at the time it was released in February 2020.
As for awards, “Downhill” did not win any major accolades, but Louis-Dreyfus was nominated for Best Actress at the 25th Satellite Awards in 2021.
The cinematography by Danny Cohen was outstanding; he captured stunning shots of Austria’s beauty throughout the movie. From majestic mountains to serene landscapes and snow-covered hillsides – every place they visited on their trip came alive on screen.
It is also noteworthy that there were not many special effects used in this film as most of it was shot on location.
Regarding dialogue, there were some hilarious lines in the script that had me chuckling throughout. One memorable quote comes from Zach Woods’ character Fergus when he says: “Don’t mistake politeness for flirting – Austrians are a very formal people.”
Critics received “Downhill” with mixed reactions; some described it as subtle and thought-provoking while others called it dull and lacking real depth. However, I must say I found myself somewhere in between these two perspectives.
In conclusion, “Downhill” is a great movie worth watching if you’re looking for a family drama with moments of comic relief set against an awe-inspiring backdrop. It teaches us about perseverance and forgiveness – just like life itself – sometimes we need to go through rough patches to refine our relationship with each other. And after all we go through, whether it be an avalanche or a pandemic, life will go on.
Technical Data
- Runtime : 87
- Release : 2020-02-06
- Genre : Drama, Comedy
- Cast : Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Billie Stanton, Will Ferrell as Pete Stanton, Julian Grey as Finn Stanton, Ammon Jacob Ford as Emerson Stanton, Zach Woods as Zach
- Crew : Anthony Bregman as Producer, Jeanne McCarthy as Casting, Florian Reichmann as Art Direction, John Ross as Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Pamela Martin as Editor
- Popularity 13.04
- Budget : 0
- Revenue : $7,547,254
- Company : Searchlight Pictures, Likely Story, Filmhaus Films
- Summary : Barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in the Alps, a married couple is thrown into disarray as they are forced to reevaluate their lives and how they feel about each other.
- Tagline : A Different Kind of Disaster Movie.
