The Swedish film Force Majeure landed in 2014 and its premise alone got many Americans to check out the dark comedy that wound up scoring a nomination for Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes. It is a story about a seemingly happily married man who could not come across more selfish if he tried while on holiday with his family. See, there was an avalanche that occurred while he and his wife and two kids were sitting out on the open-air deck at the ski resort they were visiting. When the alarm sounded, he grabbed his phone and took off for safety—leaving his three immediate family members behind.
What occurs next is as one would expect, a reevaluation of the marriage and the family by the wife (and the kids!). It was a stellar concept and one that would force many to look at their own situation. One thing that we could have seen coming … an American remake! Downhill is out now on Blu-Ray, DVD, and digital download and features Will Ferrell and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as the couple in question and the set-up is the same. How the situation plays out is the most fascinating of study in personal behavior and accountability.
An enormous plus to the remake is not only the two comedic gems who headline the American redo but those who are behind the camera. Downhill is helmed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, written by Jesse Armstrong, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash. Faxon and Rash are the Oscar-winning screenwriters who gave us The Descendants, starring George Clooney. Faxon and Rash also directed Downhill, as such the Americanization of the Swedish film could not be in better hands. This is also the duo who helmed 2013’s The Way Way Back with Steve Carell.
Ferrell and Dreyfus are Pete and Billie, respectively, and as marriages go, this one was going pretty well—all would say. That is before Pete grabbed his phone and headed away from danger without his family as that avalanche started barreling toward the chalet where they were enjoying lunch. To be fair, American comedy and Swedish comedies are quite different. We have a different sense of humor that share some elements, but overall, when it comes to dark humor, there is a stark difference. So, in many ways, Downhill had an uphill climb to win over American audiences and history has shown us that when it debuted in February earlier this year, it didn’t do so well. I think that the flick should do much better on home video where a stuck-at-home quarantined audience is ripe for taking a chance on an American remake of a Swedish dark comedy.
Downhill also stars Miranda Otto, Zach Woods, Zoe Chao, Giulio Berruti, and Kristofer Hivju. It’s an ensemble that is pretty terrific and also one that keenly knows when to support and when to get out of the way of its two leads and their trademark brand of hilarity.
Now, American remakes are often not quite as resonant as the foreign original. A recent example is the beloved French charmer The Intouchables that was remade with Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart as The Upside. The collective sentiment on that endeavor mirrors that of Downhill. Hart and Cranston were a terrific tandem and the story truly scored with me, although the French original was more … well, everything. But let’s be clear … the American remake was solid, enjoyable, and poignant. The same exact thing can be said with Downhill. The American version is solid, is enjoyable, and strikes a chord straight into one’s soul. Frankly, the original of almost anything is usually a better effort than a redo. This American adores Ferrell and Dreyfuss and the chance to witness these two American treasures in the same movie as a feuding couple is a chance you should not miss. Home video is the perfect environ to witness their marriage heading firmly Downhill and the laughs may not be a laugh-a-minute, but there will be hilarity and it is certainly welcomed during these challenging times.
Pardon the pun, but there is an avalanche of bonus features that will also bring plenty of joy to viewers. One of the best scenes in the entire film is the scene that features the couple having a meal with Otto’s Charlotte. Therefore, it is hardly a surprise that a great bonus feature is Outtakes: Dinner with Charlotte. Witnessing the ensemble just ad-libbing and riffing is a study in comedic genius. The dinner may be uncomfortable for all involved to experience, but that makes it all the more joyous for us to enjoy at home.
Origins of the Film is a terrific, just over eight-minute featurette that explores the origins of the film, the Swedish original, and shines a spotlight on how screenwriters and directors adapted the source material. It is a fascinating look at how one even attempts to “recreate” a foreign film that was successful and adapting it for American audiences.
Given the locale of the film plays such a huge role in the entire cinematic experience, do not miss the featurette Locations. The nine-minute-and-15-second featurette does look at how they chose the setting for their film, but also surprisingly serves as a fun opportunity for the thespian troupe of the flick to have some fun at their co-directors’ expense!
A digital bonus feature that I adored was Casting the Stanton Family and Friends. It is just as it sounds and is an utter delight.
Film Grade: B
Bonus Features: B