Skiing in the Alps is possibly one of the most fun yet daring experiences you can do. Seeing the mountain ranges and skiing down slopes all while trying to not be caught out by an avalanche. However in “Downhill,” a couple will reevaluate everything after their near-death experience.
Directed by duo Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (“The Way Way Back”), they explore how a couple’s marriage (Will Ferrell from “Step Brothers” and Julia Louis-Dreyfus from “Veep”) could all be heading downhill after they both barely escape an avalanche in the mountains.
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The film is actually a remake of the critically-acclaimed Cannes comedy and Swedish film “Force Majeure” which came out in 2014 and was directed by Ruben Östlund, who will also act as a producer on the remake. The film was given a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, and our own Jessica Kiang reviewed it back then calling it “a brutally smart and original film that capped off Cannes in bracing style — its edge is so keen, and its movements so deft that it’s not till you’re out the cinema and up the road that you realize how cutting it was.” We wonder how Ferrell and co. will replicate that success of the original, with Ferrell especially not producing some of his finer stuff as of late, with a stint as an SNL host going completely off the radar.
However, this could be the role that reinvigorates the career of Ferrell, his best has been the likes of “Step Brothers” and as Ron Burgundy in “Anchorman.” Starring alongside Louis-Dreyfus could be something that works really well for both of them, after Louis-Dreyfus has just wrapped the final season of “Veep” and that has really brought the comedic best out of her.
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One actor that starred in the original and the remake will be “Game Of Thrones” actor Kristofer Hivju, he played the leads best mate in the original, it is unknown what his role in the remake will be but it’ll be great to see Norwegian grace the big screen again.
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With Ferrell and Louis-Dreyfus, there are roles for Zach Woods (“Silicon Valley”), Zoë Chao (“Living With Yourself”) and Miranda Otto (“War Of The Worlds”). The film is being distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures with Louis-Dreyfus, Stefanie Azpiazu, Anthony Bregman and Erik Hemmendorff all producing with Östlund.
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Here is the synopsis:
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. Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell star in this biting comedy.
The film slides into cinemas on Valentine’s Day (14th February) 2020, what better way to spend the most loving day of the year than with a bickering couple whose marriage could potentially end. Watch the new trailer below.