Prince Avalanche - B

Rated R, 94 minutes

Quirky "Prince Avalanche" an uneven but affecting buddy film

Emile Hirsch and Paul Rudd

We don't need another quirky odd couple tale, but the unconventional "Prince Avalanche" is a simple pleasure. Directed by former Dallasite David Gordon Green, it's oddly imperfect, well-acted and satisfying look friendship. An odd couple of sorts, uptight Alvin (Paul Rudd) and his girlfriend’s brother, dopey Lance (Emile Hirsch) leave the city behind to spend the summer in solitude repainting traffic lines down the center of a lonely Texas highway ravaged by wildfire. Over time, an unlikely friendship develops as they must rely upon each other. "Prince Avalanche," which could also be called Alone and Lonely, is directed and written by Green, who's leaned toward low brow, drug comedies as of late ("Your Highness," "Pineapple Express"). An unassuming, talky independent film such as this is seemingly an unusual fit for the director, and in spite of an uneven tone and a predictable script, it works better than you might think. Filmed on location in the Hill Country of Texas where some actual fires occurred, it's essentially a two-person character study, volleying between reflectiveness and wistful amusement. It helps that the talented Rudd and Hirsch give funny/sad turns as two men who are seemingly different on the surface but much more alike underneath. The likable and very modest "Prince Avalanche" wears its quirkiness on its sleeve, but it's still satisfying in the end.

Wes's Grade: B