Director: Randall Miller (Nobel Son)
Writers: Jody Savin , Randall Miller, Ross Schwartz
Producers: J. Todd Harris, Brenda Lhormer, Marc Lhormer, Randall Miller, Jody Savin, Marc Toberoff
Starring: Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Alan Rickman, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodríguez, Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 110 min

I read a lot of comparisons to Sideways before taking my seat for Bottle Schock. Nothing could be further from the truth. Ok sure, there’s some wine snobbery and they both take place in California’s wine country, but Bottle Shock is nowhere near as fun or as unpredictable as Sideways was. The story is a near opposite and the style isn’t hip in the slightest – to say nothing about the blandness of the characters; that had real potential to be great. So no, if it’s Sideways you’re looking for, then watch Sideways; it’s one of a kind.

Putting aside the “based on a true story” thing for a moment, let’s assume this is basically an original screenplay as I’m sure much of the dialogue and circumstance are all made up anyway for “dramatic effect.” The problem is that it’s not all that dramatic and it doesn’t have that much of an effect either. I’m one who can easily be suckered into some emotion with a heartfelt father-son story or a lifelong dream shot down by unfortunate circumstances. Unfortunately with Bottle Shock every interaction is played so lightheartedly, that nothing even remotely resembling drama comes forth.

The story itself is supposed to deal with the 1976 wine tasting competition in Paris, in which the United States, for the first time, would be taken seriously in a blind taste test; going head-to-head with the finest of Parisian wine. Alan Rickman’s character is a French wine enthusiast who hatches the scheme of bringing in the Americans in hopes of brining some publicity to his small establishment. As Rickman makes his way through Napa Valley, we’re forced to deal with a soap opera-esque love triangle between some vineyard working teens, two father-son stories, a slacker kid thinking about his future and a proud wine maker who refuses to ask for help; despite being in debt up to his eyeballs.

Throwing all this mix in the beautiful Napa Valley probably has this sounding like it might make for a good story right? But it is so blandly told and so cliche ridden, it’s hard to have any emotion for what’s happening at any given moment. Throw in a gut busting soundtrack overblown with Doobie Brothers tunes on one end and cheesy, piano solos on the other and it becomes difficult not to gag as the 60 and 70-somethings in the audience more than chuckled at each bit of humor – of which nothing was new or particularly biting.

While knowing the outcome of a movie doesn’t always destroy the point of the rest of a movie, with Bottle Shock, that’s exactly what occurs. Nothing seems to matter. Partly because we know exactly how it will end and partly because the story meanders from one sub-plot to the next without any real meaning or care. Each character seems to just be going through the motions here. And if isn’t a lack of effort, it’s a lack of character depth or intrigue.

Arguably the one break-out role is that of Chris Pine: surfer dude with no ambition or cares of any kind. Unfortunately he’s played as either a dumb kid or a very resourceful business man. It doesn’t really work both ways. Rickman’s character is just used as a toy to get some PG rated “snob meets hick” humor out of the way and Rachel Taylor is there for… well, good looks and sex appeal (which is why Eliza Dushku was there, but who’s counting?). Rodriguez and Pullman are serviceable but ultimately unneeded and full of joylessness on screen. Even Farina isn’t used in his usual, smart-ass manner. Quite frankly, I’m not sure why he’s there at all.

If Bottle Shock had stuck to the core of its story instead of veering off into needless relationship garbage, we might’ve had a little bit more fun. We’re in a great locale, we start with a couple potentially interesting characters in Pine and Rickman and then it bogs itself down with needlessness and cheese. Too many characters, too many uninteresting sideplots, too much cliche music and humor makes me squirm. A little more chocolate and little less cheese would’ve helped make Bottle Shock taste a little bit less like vinegar.

Links:
IMDb profile
Official Site
Flixster Profile for Bottle Shock