Director: David Gordan Green
MPAA Rating: R
Film Pulse Score: 7.5/10
David Gordon Green’s Prince Avalanche seemed to be filmed and produced entirely under-the-radar. Shot in Bastrop, Texas amid rejuvenation efforts towards rebirth following the devastating wildfires in 2011 that claimed over 34,000 acres of land. Prince Avalanche was created in, essentially, one year; a seemingly bare-bones production with a small cast that also, happens to be a remake of a 2011 Icelandic film titled Either Way directed by Hafsteinn Sigurdsson.
The simplistic plot involves a pair of road workers, Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsch), who spend their days painting traffic lines and installing roadside posts. Camping out during the off hours, Alvin spends most of his time in solitude – fishing, painting and writing correspondence to his girlfriend Madison; while Lance spends his in a constant state of agitated horniness, incessantly talking about girls, the upcoming weekend and sex. What could make their time working and living together in the solitude of wilderness more taxing? How about the fact that Lance is the brother of Alvin’s girlfriend and Alvin doesn’t think too much about Lance.
The small production and simple plot puts all the pressure on the performances of the film’s two leads, Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. Luckily for the viewer, Rudd and Hirsch (following a great turn in Killer Joe) quickly establish an exceptional chemistry together which, in turn, drives the story along and keeps Prince Avalanche from dragging at certain points. Their demeanors and line readings provide much of the film’s humor, which is a lot. I knew Prince Avalanche was going to have touches of comedy, but I didn’t realize it was going to be hilarious in an understated way throughout. Rudd and Hirsch, both respectively, do a great job comedy-wise, but also provide nice touches of vulnerability and emotion which produces a nice balance.
The other performance of note when it comes to the comedic aspect of Prince Avalanche would have to be that of the day-drinking on the job truck driver played perfectly by Lance LeGault. Providing a great comedic respite between Alvin and Lance’s own humorous bickering while supplying drinks, insults and sage advice. Lance LeGault, without a doubt, stole every scene he appeared in with a multitude of amusing exchanges with Rudd and Hirsch.
David Gordon Green does add a dash of surrealism at certain parts but overall, Prince Avalanche turned out to be quite the comedy. Immensely entertaining and humorous throughout with perfectly placed touches of emotion, David Gordon Green’s latest is a welcoming quasi-return to his earlier work. Prince Avalanche feels like a mash-up of Green’s recent comedic work (Pineapple Express, The Sitter) set in the world and aesthetics of his earlier films (George Washington, Snow Angels), which worked perfectly due in large part to the performances of Rudd and Hirsch.
