Review of Prince Avalanche (2013) by Martin K — 14 Dec 2013

Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch star as two men working for the Texas highway department re-painting lines on rural west Texas highways after the region was devastated by wildfires. It might sound like an exciting nail-biter, but it is actually a contemplative character-study about these two highly different men reluctantly bonding over drying paint.

Alvin (Rudd) enjoys his desolate and quiet existence away from the hustle and bustle of life as he believes being in tune with life and nature is of utmost importance to the human spirit. Lance is exactly the opposite as he craves human interaction and looks forward to the weekends when he can leave the quiet countryside and venture into a population center with girls and anything more than 4 people to have a grand old time.

Both actors do a decent job with their roles and it is nice seeing Rudd get to prove that he is a capable dramatic actor and Hirsch is fine here although it isn't his best work and his character becomes more and more annoying at the film progresses.

The two men are at odds with one another through much of the film but eventually grow wiser when they accept one another for who he actually is -- a good friend. I didn't dislike this film but it would be a hard one to recommend as little happens here.

The two men undergo subtle changes here and there ... and this Avalanche is one that requires more thought than vision. I'm not exactly sure what to fully make of this movie as the men are dressed like Mario and Luigi but we are never supposed to laugh at any of the sight gags.

The film is fine; but it doesn't all work ...