Laura’s Rating: 2/5 Stars
After reading the book Cork Dork by Bianca Bosker a few years ago, I’ve been interested in the inner circles of wine enthusiasts and master sommeliers, certified experts in the world of wine. This looked like a new take on the subject so I thought I’d check it out.
The Analysis:
This Netflix original follows Elijah, who is trying to find his place in the world without disappointing his hard working father, who expects him to take over the family restaurant. Despite his hard work and talent in the family’s barbeque joint, Elijah’s passion is wine. He works a second job at a local wine store in a quest to explore different flavors and is inspired to try to become a master sommelier. Uncorked considers important questions about if we should forge our own paths or if we owe something to our families. Elijah’s mother is willing to do anything to help her son achieve his goals, but when her health starts to decline, can Elijah still justify chasing his dreams?
In the wine store, Elijah compares a chardonnay to JAY-Z, a pinot grigio to Kanye West, and says that riesling is “usually kinda sweet” like the thoughtful rapper Drake. This Netflix original is refreshing in that it fuses the diverse worlds of hip-hop, family owned restaurants, and sophisticated wine snobs. There’s the sights and sounds of homemade barbeque combined with exclusive wine tastings and even French rap music.
The premise of the movie is decent and there are compelling moments in the plot but the performance by main actor Mamoudou Athie falls a bit flat. You don’t really see his alleged passion for wine and his inner struggle only feels intense in a couple specific scenes. Elijah’s relationship with his girlfriend Tanya feels one sided, with her being charismatic and encouraging, while he seems bored at best. The ending of the film also left me wanting more but not really in a good way. The audience gets some idea of Elijah’s future but it feels abrupt and unfulfilling. If this movie was someone’s first encounter with the ins and outs of sommeliers and wine, they would likely find it interesting. However, I’d recommend other books and movies to provide that background over Uncorked.
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