Rent Downhill (2014)

Tedious and unfunny film, about four middle aged unfit men who set out on the Coast to Coast walk. - Downhill review by GH

None of these characters had anything remotely interesting to say, and their drunken evenings were pathetic. A pity that the glorious scenery they walked through wasn't commented on, and it would have been good to know where actually they were each day. Can't believe these are mature men, pity their wives.

Give this a miss.

God, how dull.... - Downhill review by CP Customer

Rather tedious. Some middle aged men, none of whom are very interesting (some are clearly having a bit of a mid life crisis) go on a walk.

Very funny mockumentary with great dialogue - Downhill review by PV

The only really bad thing about this DVD is that there is NO option for SUBTITLES! That is a real shame because the naturalist mockumentary style and the northern accents and mumbled dialogue mean that subtitles would have been very helpful.

Having said that, all else is positive. This is in the mockumentary tradition and probably influenced by Michael Winterbottom's The Trip with Steve Coogan and Rob Bryden BUT Downhill - a Road Trip is FAR funnier than that, and than any other Winterbottom film.

There are well-drawn characters, efficient flab-free storytelling in the script, lovely scenery, genuine surprised, probably the best drunken acting I have ever seen, and some great weather jokes!

OK, so the ending is a tad unbelievable (are non-friends really so forgiving after...well...no spoilers here). Also, I could predict parts of the screenplay and a couple of the issues each character had - because every major character has an issue, as screenwriting courses teach.

But I can forgive all that and could easily watch this film again now. It is more suited to TV of course than film, but the BBC would never ever be so creative as to take a risk on new writers and directors, preferring to stick with stale, tried and tested old hands or those with who get maximum diversity points to write about social issues.

Downhill is a really funny film. 4 stars+.