A big problem many might have with the new film starring Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus called Downhill is that it is, simply put, not that funny. In fact, the film is currently billed as a comedy/drama, or dramedy if you will. This classification does the film a severe disservice as there isn’t really anything in the context of Downhill that feels like its intended to or should be taken as being all that funny. Even though some extremely funny people are involved in the project, the subject matter—the disillusionment of marital/familial bliss is, by all accounts, no laughing matter.
Downhill is a remake of the film Force Majeure (2014) from Swedish director Ruben Östund. While that film’s dry take on marital relationships following a pseudo-avalanche could be interpreted as a dry satire on the institutions of marriage and family, this new Americanized version, directed by...
Downhill is a remake of the film Force Majeure (2014) from Swedish director Ruben Östund. While that film’s dry take on marital relationships following a pseudo-avalanche could be interpreted as a dry satire on the institutions of marriage and family, this new Americanized version, directed by...
- 2/14/2020
- by Mike Tyrkus
- CinemaNerdz
Hollywood knockoffs of foreign-language films almost never work. Remember the recent Miss Bala (based on Mexico’s 2012 Oscars submission of the same name) and The Upside (the Kevin Hart/Bryan Cranston version of the 2011 French hit The Intouchables)? Downhill, an Americanized remake of 2014’s brilliant Force Majeure, turns Swedish director Ruben Östlund’s black-comic provocation into a bland muddle. Östlund’s prickly moral fable felt like if Ingmar Bergman directed a National Lampoon’s Ski Vacation. The dreary and disconcertingly unfunny Downhill . The rich possibilities in the casting of Will Ferrell...
- 2/12/2020
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
The inciting incident of Downhill takes place on the deck of a ski resort in the Alps. In the midst of lunch, a family of four watches a controlled avalanche tumble towards the outdoor restaurant where they’re eating. It continues growing in size and severity, and those around them begin panicking and ducking for cover. The family’s father follows suit, grabbing his phone off the table and running for safety, leaving his wife and two sons to withstand the arctic blast. The quick whiteout ends up being a false alarm, but the real damage has just begun.
If that momentous scene sounds familiar, it’s because it already exists. Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, collaborating on a script with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, have Americanized and remade Ruben Ostlund’s 2014 black comedy Force Majeure. Which is to say they have brought in two comedy heavyweights in Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus,...
If that momentous scene sounds familiar, it’s because it already exists. Directors Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, collaborating on a script with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong, have Americanized and remade Ruben Ostlund’s 2014 black comedy Force Majeure. Which is to say they have brought in two comedy heavyweights in Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus,...
- 1/27/2020
- by Jake Kring-Schreifels
- The Film Stage
Pete (Will Ferrell) and Billie (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) are a prosperous American couple who’ve taken their two sons on a ski vacation to the Alps. Are they having fun yet? That’s a question that hovers over the movie, as the family members hit the slopes and make pilgrimages to the alpine-lodge restaurant, or retire to their room, where they always feel guilty about playing games or watching TV, since they could do that anywhere. In the cold designer bathroom, Pete and Billie stand next to each other and stare at the mirror with humdrum familiarity. They’re on vacation, and doing their best to relax and enjoy themselves, but the very act of trying so hard reveals that something is off.
If “Downhill” were a Will Ferrell comedy, it might have played like “National Lampoon’s Ski-Lift Vacation,” full of snowy collisions and people making drunken holiday idiots of themselves.
If “Downhill” were a Will Ferrell comedy, it might have played like “National Lampoon’s Ski-Lift Vacation,” full of snowy collisions and people making drunken holiday idiots of themselves.
- 1/27/2020
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
When “Parasite” filmmaker Bong Joon Ho won this year’s Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign-Language Film, the beloved Korean auteur used his podium to deliver a necessary message: “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.” It’s a lesson any film fan could stand to learn, including the audience who opts to take in Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s well-intentioned but ultimately flat “Downhill,” an Americanized remake of Ruben Östlund’s understandably lauded 2014 black comedy “Force Majeure.” While the duo have snagged an enviable cast, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell taking on the lead roles of a married couple on edge, and a script co-written by “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong,
It’s clear from the start that Faxon and Rash have a lot of affection for Östlund’s feature — hell, they didn’t even bother...
It’s clear from the start that Faxon and Rash have a lot of affection for Östlund’s feature — hell, they didn’t even bother...
- 1/27/2020
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Hey, "Seal Team" fans. We hope you guys enjoyed last week's episode 21. Now that it's officially in the history books, it's time to see what's in store for the next, new episode 22. Episode 22 will indeed be the finale episode of this current season 2. CBS was nice enough to deliver a press release for it. So, that's what we'll be using for this spoiler session. To get things started, CBS' press release revealed that the finale episode 22 is named, "Never Out Of The Fight." It sounds like episode 22 will feature some very interesting, possible dramatic and action-filled scenes as the Bravo team's future is in major jeopardy! However, one final mission could change things and more! We'll go a head and start off this spoiler session with the Bravo team future situation. It turns out that things will certainly not be looking bright for the future of the Bravo team in this installment.
- 5/23/2019
- by Andre Braddox
- OnTheFlix
In today’s film news roundup, “Coming to America 2” gets a director, Quincy Jones and James Blum get an honor and production begins on the Julia Louis-Dreyfus-Will Ferrell’s comedy-drama “Downhill.”
Director Attached
Paramount Pictures has hired “Hustle & Flow” helmer Craig Brewer to direct its sequel to the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America.” Murphy is expected to return as the star.
The project has been in the works for several years with Jonathan Levine previously attached to direct. The California Film Commission awarded Paramount a $13 million tax credit last April for “Coming to America 2” but that was conditioned on production launching within 180 days.
Kenya Barris has been attached since 2017 to rewrite a script by original “Coming to America” writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield. Murphy is producing with Kevin Misher.
The original movie was directed by John Landis, with Murphy playing a charming African prince who traveled to...
Director Attached
Paramount Pictures has hired “Hustle & Flow” helmer Craig Brewer to direct its sequel to the 1988 Eddie Murphy comedy “Coming to America.” Murphy is expected to return as the star.
The project has been in the works for several years with Jonathan Levine previously attached to direct. The California Film Commission awarded Paramount a $13 million tax credit last April for “Coming to America 2” but that was conditioned on production launching within 180 days.
Kenya Barris has been attached since 2017 to rewrite a script by original “Coming to America” writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield. Murphy is producing with Kevin Misher.
The original movie was directed by John Landis, with Murphy playing a charming African prince who traveled to...
- 1/12/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.