Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quiet character drama has some drinking, sex talk.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Prince Avalanche
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsh) form a two-man work crew, spending the summer alone in the woods repairing a road damaged by forest fire. For Alvin, it's a chance to commune with nature and better himself through solitary meditation. For Lance, who's also the brother of Alvin's girlfriend, it's just a job, and he lives for the weekends, when he can go to town and try to meet girls. It's a classic odd-couple setup, and both men are portrayed as realistic characters ... who happen to be totally insufferable. Alvin is an irritating know-it-all, unaware that he rubs just about everyone the wrong way. And Lance is kind of dim, not very sophisticated, and not very considerate. They don't become friends, exactly, but they do manage to grow when they're finally able to see themselves through each other's eyes.
Is It Any Good?
PRINCE AVALANCHE is a quiet film; not a lot happens, and not a lot needs to happen. Alvin and Lance paint one yellow line after another on a road that seems to go on forever. They bicker, they seethe, they don't really make up. The next day they do it again. Yet they also start to grow on each other.
The audience also starts to see actual characters emerge, and the actors do a fine job of making Alvin and Lance into full-fledged human beings rather than caricatures. We don't necessarily come to like them, but, perhaps more importantly, we understand who they are. That understanding engenders sympathy for them and is what give the film its heart. The film may not be the most thrilling, but its authenticity hits the spot.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what Prince Avalanche says about friendship. Do you think Alvin and Lance are friends? How will they react to each other when the job is done and they go their separate ways?
What do you think about Alvin's relationship with his girlfriend? What are the main issues in their relationship?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 9, 2013
- On DVD or streaming : November 12, 2013
- Cast : Emile Hirsch , Paul Rudd
- Director : David Gordon Green
- Studio : Magnolia Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Friendship
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some sexual content
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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