Downhill
Starring: Will Ferrell, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Directed By: Nat Faxon
Rated: R

A vacation to the Austrian alps seems like a dream. You have the chance to go skiing, take in the sights, and enjoy time with your loved ones. Yet for the Staunton’s, the dream Austrian ski vacation quickly turns into a nightmare scenario. After they spend their days skiing the slopes, an incident occurs that sends the family dynamic into a tailspin. Soon they’re not just going downhill on the slopes but in their relationships as well.

Downhill is a remake of a 2014 Swedish film called Force Majeure that debuted to critical acclaim upon its release. For some reason (the promise of money), studio execs decided that it had to be remade for an American audience. When I first saw the trailer for Downhill, I was confused. It looked like the plotline of Force Majeure, but the addition of Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus signaled this would take on a much more comedic tone than the original film. Unfortunately, Downhill can’t settle on a tone. Most of the time, it’s a serious relationship drama about two people who have horrible communication issues. Then it attempts to inject humor with side characters. There are a few laughs, but the majority of the scenes are quite awkward.

The entirety of the film revolves around Pete (Will Ferrell), Billie (Julia Louis Dreyfus), and their children on vacation. (Their children have no defining characterization whatsoever except that they love to watch their iPad) After a long day on the slopes, the family goes to lunch, where an avalanche seems to approach the restaurant. Pete panics and runs away from the table, while Billie stays with the kids to face the danger ahead. It turns out to be a “controlled avalanche” that is a routine procedure for the resort, but for the family, it felt like a life or death situation. Pete’s reaction is the most defining moment of all. Would he just get up and leave them in a moment of crisis? Run away from his own family This moment has a colossal impact on the rest of the trip as Billie and Pete’s relationship begins to deteriorate from the fallout.

Will Ferrell shows off a more dramatic side as Pete. He’s not his usual hammy, comedic self looking for whatever juvenile laugh he can find. (It’s nice to see him play a more nuanced role for once.) Instead, he’s a man who is grieving the recent loss of his father, struggling with the finite nature of life. He can’t seem to get on the same page as his family. The disconnect between him and Billie is palpable and becomes magnified after the avalanche.
Julia Louis Dreyfus juggles moments of comedy and drama as Billie. She’s an organized mother who takes care of everything for the family. Sometimes her need to organize every single second can be downright frustrating to watch. The avalanche leaves her in a state of shock when Pete refuses to acknowledge the severity of the situation. Dreyfus shows off an impressive acting range with moments of anxiety, happiness, and sadness.
I’m all for comedians trying out dramatic roles, but Downhill was marketed as a quirky comedy. It’s not that. With two know comedians leading the cast, I can’t help but feel like this film should have more moments that work comedically.

If you are expecting to see a good comedy, prepare to be let down. Although it stars two notable comedians, this is a relationship drama that often struggles to find the right tone. Some scenes drag at a slow pace, while others have a notable awkwardness that cuts to the core. Downhill presents an interesting portrait of a struggling relationship but seeing that relationship slide the treacherous downhill slopes can get a little depressing.
My Rating: 6/10