See It at the Movies

DOWNHILL

By JOYCE & DON FOWLER
Posted 2/21/20

DOWNHILL

* * 

(Dark, depressing family soap opera)

This dark, depressing family soap opera goes downhill quite rapidly. Choosing two comedians to play serious roles is a strange choice …

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See It at the Movies

DOWNHILL

Posted

DOWNHILL

* * 

(Dark, depressing family soap opera)

This dark, depressing family soap opera goes downhill quite rapidly. Choosing two comedians to play serious roles is a strange choice in a story taken from a popular Swedish film.

Will Ferrell plays Peter Staunton, who with his wife Billie (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and their two sons head off to the Alps for a ski vacation at an upscale resort. As an avalanche approaches, Peter panics and runs for his life, leaving his wife and kids in shock.

Everything in their relationship changes, as Peter goes into denial and Billie can't even be in the same room with him. Peter heads for the bottle, while Billie has a short fling with her ski instructor.

The movie seems to be a psychological look at relationships, how they are nurtured, change and lead to destructive  results. Some may find it a miscast bore. The scenery, however, is great.

Rated R with profanity.

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