"Downhill"

While we have seen a number of movies so far in 2020, today we took in our first movie that is an actual 2020 release.  The movie is "Downhill" directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rush and starring Julie Louis-Dreyfuss and Will Ferrell.  With these stars you might expect to be seeing a goofy comedy, but this movie, while it has some moments of humor in it, is no comedy.

Billie and Pete are on an Austrian ski vacation with their two sons.  While dining at an outdoor lodge at the resort, an avalanche occurs.  Billie grabs on to their two sons and prepares for the worst.  Pete grabs his cell phone and runs away.  The moment passes, everyone is okay, physically, but the relationship between Pete and his family is changed dramatically and, perhaps, irrevocably.  While the mountain scenery is fairly spectacular, watching how this all plays out is the stuff of a serious stage play.

It is odd to see actors like Louis-Dreyfuss and Ferrell depart from their well established personas and take on roles like this, and they both pull it off.  Louis-Dreyfus is especially good in her role.  Actors sometime get typecast, Ferrell, especially, but it's enjoyable to see them stretch themselves out in roles such as these and carry them off.

Like a lot of movies that get released in January and February, this one will probably be pretty much forgotten as the year rolls along.  Today was the last day that it will be at our local multiplex, and it will probably now be difficult to find until it gets released to the streaming services and DVD shelves.  Too bad.

Both Marilyn and I liked it, and The Grandstander gives it Two and One-Half Stars.