Title – Prince Avalanche (2013)
Director – David Gordon Green (Undertow)
Cast – Paul Rudd, Emile Hirsch
Plot – Highway workers Alvin (Rudd) and his girlfriend’s brother Lance (Hirsch) are tasked with re-painting roads through the wilderness after raging fires destroyed them the year previous. In this setting of isolation the two men will confront issues in their live’s from love, loss and hope.
“True love is just like a ghost – people talk about it but very few have actually seen it.”
Review by Eddie on 5/12/2013
Being involved with HBO’s fantastic cult TV show Eastbound and Down has kept director David Gordon Green off the big screens for a few years now with 2011 misfires Your Highness and The Sitter his last venture into cinemas. Prince Avalanche therefore heralds a welcome return to the medium and non-gross out comedies, yet is perhaps a somewhat lesser entry into his varied film catalogue.
Not one to conform to the normal way of telling a story Green’s film (itself a remake of a 2011 Icelandic film) sets up with an intriguing premise in 1988 where we find our two protagonists tasked with the arduous job of re-painting and re-marking the roads destroyed in the previous year’s wildfire. These two men Alvin and Lance (one feels that this is where the Avalanche in the title comes from) are the type of lost souls usually found in a Wes Anderson picture and whilst never really striking a chord with the audience are well played by both Rudd and Hirsch and the two should be commended for taking on board this project.
The seemingly simple story synopsis for Prince Avalanche upon reflection has deeper connotations that may be variable from viewer to viewer. Gordon Green’s simplistic take on the tale however can feel slight over the 90 minute running time and by the films end it feels as though there was more that could have been done throughout the film to transcend it from a mere enjoyable oddity to a solidified cult classic in waiting. Gordon Green’s trademark black humour is also sparingly used throughout the film so fans of his more outrageous works should look elsewhere for the laughing kicks.
Prince Avalanche is an enjoyable film that perhaps overtime will start to be deconstructed with its hidden meanings making their way into the light of day, until then however it acts as an inoffensive piece of entertainment that whilst never outstaying it’s welcome doesn’t do anything much to stay in our long lasting memory.
3 witches hats out of 5
Related articles
- Prince Avalanche (seventhreel.co.uk)
- Movie review: Prince Avalanche (15) (dailyrecord.co.uk)
- David Gordon Green Cites Beckett’s WAITING FOR GODOT Influence On PRINCE AVALANCHE (broadwayworld.com)
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
Nicely done, I would really like to see this just for a change of pace in Paul Rudd’s career. Emile Hirsche looks interesting too.
Both are very good, Tom. In that regard, it doesn’t disappoint.
There both great mate as James has said. It’s very well filmed as well, Gordon Green has a great eye for details.
Eddie
Agreed. I felt this one just ended too soon. It had potential to be special, but as is feels unfinished.
It was by my understanding a quite short shoot under 20 days I think? So wouldn’t surprise me if it was a little rushed which you can sense.
Eddie
I’m dying to see this and I’m bummed you’ve rated it 3/5, but I’ll lower my expectations and then perhaps I won’t hate it.
Well worth a look Queen, I think you will find it goes along at a nice pace so you’ll never be bored with it.
Eddie
Dear Lord I need to change my wordpress “name”.
-Queen:)
Good review Eddie. While it’s definitely not Green’s best flick, it’s still nice to see him back in his comfort-zone, while also bringing along some of his newly-acquired comedic-chops for the ride.
His a very varied type of filmmaker that is for sure – his got that one with Nic Cage out next year called Joe I believe looks like another different looking film.
Eddie
Reblogged this on LetsTalkReelswithEnidJDsouza.
I reviewed this a couple of weeks back, and really enjoyed it as well guys. Was it just me who thought Emile Hirsch was looking a bit like a young Jack Black??!
That is so true! Hadn’t even thought of that, if Emile puts on a few more kilos he might be his doppelganger.
Eddie
I generally felt the same way, I thought it was bland and mostly forgettable, but with the feeling there was more to it. The music and the imagery were great though!
Yeh Green caught some great scenery and framed some impressive shots. I do get the feeling there are some underlying things in the film we are yet to discover.
Eddie
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