Downhill Willie

Willie is a young man who has everything that he wants. He lives on a mountain, goes skiing whenever he wants and has a simple job working for an old man. But when the old man’s business is threatened, Willie signs up for the first Kamikaze run, a downhill skiing race where only the very best and craziest person will win. And Willie is a little bit crazy, only he doesn’t know it or care. In the competition, he meets a young woman named Annie, whom he falls a little bit in love with, but Willie also needs to fend off the schemes of Spider Bolton, a man who will do whatever it takes to win.

Directed by David Mitchell, Downhill Willie leans on a strong ensemble — Keith Coogan, Staci Keanan, Lochlyn Munro — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1996.