Downhill

2020 Directed by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash

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.

Will Ferrell Julia Louis-Dreyfus Miranda Otto Zach Woods Kristofer Hivju Zoe Chao Ammon Jacob Ford Julian Grey Giulio Berruti Nadiv Molcho

Alternative Title

Force Majeure

drama comedy

85 mins More details at IMDb TMDb Report this film

Popular reviews

Review by Jack ★★ 3

STUDIO EXECS: Y’know that brilliant dark comedy Force Majeure? Well, let’s remake that but instead of building upon the complicated marriage dynamics and intelligent study of masculinity laid by Ruben Östlund, we’re gonna hire the directors of The Way Back to make an unbelievably stale Will Ferrell comedy.
Hollywood doing what Hollywood does best...
Review by kyle dunne ★★ 2

julia louis-dreyfus put in #work but this half-baked american remake doesn't come anywhere as close to the most riveting story set on the side of a bougie ski resort...
that one being when gwenyth paltrow was involved in a hit and run on skis, where she was was sued for $3 million for alleging running a man down and landing on top of him, causing him to suffer a concussion, brain injury and four broken ribs
and that's what you missed on goop!
Review by Andy Young ★ 5

please please please nobody do this to parasite
Review by David Chen ★★★ 4

At the Golden Globes this year, director Bong Joon-Ho already gave the only review of this film that is necessary:
"Once you overcome the 1-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”
Downhill is a totally inoffensive remake whose biggest crime is that it has virtually no reason to exist. The film on which it’s based, Ruben Ostlund’s Force Majeure, is easily accessible and unique in its premise and tone. Downhill adds nothing to that film’s legacy other than casting American as the protagonists, lightening the tone a bit(?), and giving us a fantastic Julia Louis-Dreyfus performance (she knocks it out of the park).
It’s fine! But please try to watch the original.
Review by Matt Neglia ★★★ 1

DOWNHILL may not be as thematically rich or nuanced as FORCE MAJEURE but I still liked its funnier & entertaining approach to the story of an insecure father who is failing his family & his marriage. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is outstanding & Will Ferrell hasn’t been this good in awhile. Miranda Otto’s horny performance in this was A MOOD.
Review by chavel ★★★ 7

It’s true! The 2014 solemn Swedish downer “Force Majeure” has an American remake with two of our most treasured funny people... but remains a straight drama!! Downhill has Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the awkward American man and wife with two kids on a ski holiday in Austria. Other than the fact they are tourist outsiders from another culture, it’s very much like the original film – just less arty and because of the inherent personalities there’s a little more convivial recognition we have with them as opposed to the severely uppity pair of the Swedish original.
The keystone scene takes place at about the fifteen minute mark: The family is having breakfast at a café patio and an…

Recent reviews

Review by filmsbyfriday ★★

The best thing that can be said about Downhill is that hopefully it will lead to at least a handful of people hunting down and viewing Force Majeure, the original 2014 Swedish film that this English language remake is such an inferior version of. After barely escaping an avalanche during a family ski vacation in Europe, married couple Pete (Will Ferrell) and Billie (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) find their relationship under a great deal of tension as each remembers differently the events of that day - particularly what Pete did and didn’t do when faced with a “fight or flight” moment. Directed/written by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, there’s a few elements that work, such as Miranda Otto’s scene stealing turn as…
Review by benschmidt ★★

A real dud, and not even just when directly compared to "Force Majeure". Of course it has none of Ostlund's subtleties, the quiet and painful humor, the little observations like the all-judging janitor in the cavernous hallways of the hotel. Purely on its own and separated from its brilliant source material, it's still just a boring dud, with no real contribution or reason to exist, even if it was a flawed reason like to Americanize the humor or mainstream the relationship anxieties. Neither dry enough nor broad enough, plays it safe in every way. Miranda Otto why? A movie where JLD says "I could fuck you through the wall if I wanted to" should not be this boring. It's not a travesty by any means, and there are some funny moments amidst a lot of misses, but yikes is it bland.
Review by momjeanjams ★★★½

Highly relatable characters that could have been developed much much more
Review by Hunter Friesen ★★★

It's a comedy-drama that isn't even that funny or dramatic. It could disappear from existence and not a single thing on earth would be changed.
Review by Alex Bernard ★★

AMC 6 w/ Molly and Erin!
“This is what you say 4 years ago.”
Review by neophoenixfire ★★

Interesting premise without any actual mental health advise.
Review by Bella ★★½

eh
Review by ajgasca ★★★

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is the best part of the movie. Extra props go to Miranda Otto for providing the best laughs of the movie as a promiscuous, fun-loving ski resort attendee. I wouldn’t assume because Will Ferrell and JLD are in this movie for it to be funny. They both have dramatic roles. When Ferrell’s character, Peter, leaves his family, Billie (JLD) and his two sons, while a minor avalanche hits, it puts into question the state of their marriage. Surprisingly the movie is more nuanced than at first glance. Peter and Billie are both struggling with some existential thoughts. Peter is struggling with the death of his father and his own mortality, while trying to grasp at sense of self…
Review by DirectorYeti ★

This is probably a fantasy film for late middle aged white people.