"Ski Patrol" is a silly comedy set in the snowcapped mountains of Park City (renamed Snowy Peaks for the film).
Produced by Paul Maslansky, whose greatest success has come from the "Police Academy" films, "Ski Patrol" is the same kind of juvenile low humor, combining some "Naked Gun"-style off-the-wall moments with Three Stooges-level slapstick. There's even an "Indiana Jones" moment or two as skiers and snowboarders pull off some wild stunts.
The plot is simplistic enough. Evil, slimy real estate developer Martin Mull (how many times has he played characters like this?) wants to own the mountain, but the one local owner who won't sell out is Ray Walston. Since the lodge is coming up for a safety inspection, however, Mull reasons it should be easy enough to sabotage the inspection and get Walston to sell cheap.
Mull hires some hot dog nasties who just happen to have a rivalry going with Walston's ski patrollers, the ensemble heroes of the piece.
You can easily figure out the rest for yourself.
The film begins with an amusing moment of rivalry that sets the tone for an "Airplane!" on the slopes, not to mention spectacular photography of amazing skiing that looks like it came from a Warren Miller wannabee.
But, alas, it doesn't take long for the entire affair to run down hill . . . so to speak.
Let's put it this way: This picture's big running gag is a dog with well-timed flatulence.