Champagne Problems Movie Review: Sparkle on the surface, flat in the finish

Champagne Problems Movie Review:

When Netflix’s Champagne Problems starts with an American being sent to Paris, France, to convince a liquor brand to choose their company for an acquisition, your mind automatically goes back to the streamer’s famous series in the same setting. You wonder if it’s Emily in Paris, but the protagonist is Sydney Price (Minka Kelly). With the characters being written differently and the narrative progressing with an equally romantic and comedic pace, the film slowly starts redeeming itself. But that is only until the film brings an end to their story by making Sydney do something that is very Emily-coded.

Sydney’s sister, Skyler (Maeve Courtier-Lilley), requests that she forget work and roam around Paris for just one night of her official trip. (Why is that even a request? She got free tickets to Paris!) On that magical night, she meets Henri (Tom Wozniczka), a charming, book-loving, vulnerable man, with whom she falls in love. However, the very next day, she finds him to be the heir to the brand she’s asked to acquire by her company. As she is put in a professionally deviant and personally irresistible spot, Sydney is forced to make both work.

Writing Sydney as a layered woman with baggage, rather than as someone with a bubbly personality, worked mostly in favour of the film. While it is quite a cliche that the two fall in love over an evening’s rendezvous (thankfully, they didn’t kiss in front of the Eiffel Tower), at least the characters’ shared dysfunctional upbringing makes the idea somewhat viable. Still, the film does not shy away from the tropes of any rom-com, making the experience feel like a half-empty champagne bottle after all the bubbles leave.

Along with Sydney, three other company representatives are sent to acquire the Champagne brand, Château Cassell, and with that comes the sparkling mix of characters that bring in both the comedy and the conflict. Roberto (Sean Amsing), being the saving grace, keeps the film fizzy with his hilarious presence. More than one-liners or witty quips, Roberto’s body language and his character, written to be naive and frank, bring the effervescence to the film.

Similarly, Otto (Flula Borg) and Brigette (Astrid Whettnall) are two supporting characters who land interesting arcs towards the end of the film. While the German Otto starts out to be rigid and a stickler, his eventual portrayal as someone who has never experienced friendship or communion is heartwarming, and the payoff is worth it. Likewise, the French Brigette starts off as a villain, with her knowing the language and culture, making it tough for Sydney. In fact, to circle back to Emily in Paris, she brought in heavy Sylvie Grateau energy. The film’s intention to bring out the best in everyone was truly commendable, as it goes beyond the glossy bottle, becoming worthy of celebration.Yet, having focused on setting and peripheral characters, Champagne Problems settles for a shallow conflict resolution, which makes the film open with a pop and end with a quiet pour. If anything, Netflix can write codes for a rom-com in which falling in love overnight, a half-heard statement causing a misunderstanding, and a grand gesture to win back love can all be mentioned as must-haves. Despite being misunderstood by Henri, Sydney wins over his father and changes him for the better, making her the bigger person. And from there, you don’t mind watching the film in a drunken state, as you already know how it will all end.

Minka Kelly is very convincing as Sydney, as is Tom Wozniczka as Henri. However, the latter is given very little to work with, as his emotions are restricted to romance and vulnerability. With Christmas being the backdrop of the love story, the romance cliches come along like the cork on the bottle. The issues in the film, though, are indeed Champagne Problems, making it a drama that is glossy nonetheless, even as the aftertaste varies.