USAToday
By Claudia Puig
Bottle Shock (* * * out of four) goes down easy.
It's the kind of feel-good movie whose resolution is evident from the start, being based as it is on a true story. But that doesn't make the journey any less interesting.
The story, set in 1976, chronicles the struggles of a small California winery in Napa Valley. Bill Pullman plays Jim Barrett, who gave up his law practice to run a vineyard he names Chateau Montelena. He is overextended and curmudgeonly about what seems a failing venture. He also is not at all thrilled with his long-haired son, Bo (Chris Pine). Also working for him is Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez), who has a finely honed palate and aspirations to make his own wine, and an eager intern (Rachael Taylor), who has the attention of Bo and Gustavo.
But the romantic entanglements and family conflicts are less interesting than the cultural and historical context of the early days of California's wine industry.
Meanwhile, across the pond, Alan Rickman plays the owner of a struggling vintner's shop and wine academy in Paris who is seeking publicity for his foundering business.
Spurred on by the suggestions of a neighboring shop owner (Dennis Farina), he decides to expand his wine collection to include global offerings and heads to Napa Valley to see whether the wines grown there are any good. Along the way, he significantly improves his own position and permanently changes the fate of the global wine industry.
The performances, particularly those of Pine, Rodriguez and Pullman, are excellent. Rickman is good as a seeming wine snob who proves to be more than he appears.
Bottle Shock is a watchable crowd-pleaser with an intriguing story to tell.
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