“Champagne Problems” is another Netflix Original Christmas film. This time, the setting is Paris, a town even more bedazzled than New York City.
I feel like a broken record. The movie is cheesy. It’s predictable. And it’s fun. So, what, if anything, separates it from the other horde of similar films flashing us this time of year like tinsel on an evergreen.
Pop the Corks!
Sydney Price (Minka Kelly) works for an evil, greedy US corporation. Her love of Champagne (the drink) prompts her to suggest the company diversify. So, her boss sends her to Paris to attempt the acquisition of a family-owned business, Champagne Château.
Sydney meets a hunky Frenchman, Henri (Tom Wozniczka) in a vintage bookstore. Henri loves old books, of course. And he dreams of opening a bookstore that also serves wine. Henri also happens to be the son and heir to the business Sydney is trying to purchase.
The Cast
Minka Kelly, who we last saw dating Derek Jeter and appearing in the excellent TV series, “Parenthood,” takes the lead. Sydney Price is a workaholic, described by her sister as overdue for an adventure. Minka Kelly is yet another actress who feels right at home with a cheesy Christmas film. She joins the likes of Vanessa Hudgens, Alicia Silverstone, Tia Mowry etc. Let’s hope Netflix locks her into a long-term deal.
French actor Tom Wozniczka is solid opposite Kelly. He doesn’t have much to do, other than fall in love with Minka Kell’s character really fast, which seems easy. Thibault de Montalembert (amazing name) plays Hugo Cassell, Henri’s father and owner of the family business.
The story includes three other suitors for Champagne Château. Overly outgoing Roberto (Sean Amsing), seductive Brigitte (Astrid Whettnall), and cold as ice German, Otto (Flula Borg). The Otto character is perfect comic relief, and easily my favorite character.
I rewound and rewatched one scene with Otto five times, laughing so hard my eyes were watering.
“Champagne! In victory one deserves it; in defeat one needs it.” ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
“Champagne Problems” isn’t Dom Perignon. It’s not Andre, either. The love story is rushed. The conflicts are expected. The atmosphere feels like Christmas.
Think of it a nice middle ground. A $15 bottle of wine that tastes okay and still gets you good and buzzed.
