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Bottle Shock
Freestyle Releasing


5.5

based on 26 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: PG-13 for brief strong language, some sexual content and a scene of drug use

Starring Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, Bill Pullman, Rachael Taylor, Freddy Rodriguez, Dennis Farina, Eliza Dushku, and Bradley Whitford

There are certain moments in history when America has proven itself to the world: Neil Armstrong setting foot on the moon or the US Men's Hockey team beating the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics. One such moment, however, never got the recognition it deserved: In 1976, a small American winery bested the exalted French wines of the time and sent the wine industry into a tizzy--putting California wines on the map for good. Based on the true story, Bottle Shock chronicles the events leading up to the famous "Judgment of Paris" tastings, told through the lives of father and son, Jim and Bo Barrett, as well as British wine shop owner, Steven Spurrier. Little did Steven and Jim realize that they were both on a course that would change the history of wine forever. (Freestyle Releasing)

GENRE(S):	Drama
WRITTEN BY:	Lannette Pabon (story) Ross Schwartz (& story) Jody Savin (& story) Randall Miller (& story)
DIRECTED BY:	Randall Miller
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: February 3, 2009 Theatrical: August 6, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	110 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Bottle Shock is more than the story. It is also about people who love their work, care about it with passion and talk about it with knowledge.

The Hollywood Reporter Stephen Farber

This intelligent, affectionate, beautifully acted movie gives crowd-pleasers a good name.

USA Today Claudia Puig

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.

TV Guide Maitland McDonagh

A charming comedy-drama that's surprising true to the events that inspired it.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

Beautifully shot by Michael J. Ozier, the dominating taste in Bottle Shock is Rickman's beautiful performance as a snob - a snob who is secretly open to being delightfully surprised.

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

It's a winner. And not just for oenophiles. Director Randall Miller, who co-wrote the script with his wife Jody Savin, keeps the plot brimming with spirit and wit.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

Low budget, self-distributed, awkwardly charming, it's the kind of midrange Hollywood entertainment that's supposed to be extinct in this modern age. It makes you want to support your local vintner and your local moviemaker.

LA Weekly Scott Foundas

Just around the halfway point, something unexpected happens -- the movie actually gets good. You can chalk that up to the delightful Alan Rickman.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

Whatta movie: booze, unhappy French people, Alan Rickman and really cool pickup trucks.

Variety Robert Koehler

Wine lovers won't just sip but guzzle a lot of this down, and the same effect that sun-dappled days and sex in California had on "Sideways" operates here.

Portland Oregonian Marc Mohan

Bottle Shock never quite connects. And considering the more recent transformation of Napa, the movie's triumphant ending rings a bit false.

Film Threat K.J. Doughton

I found myself in a tug-of-war between enjoying Bottle Shock as entertaining fluff, and thinking that there might be a more serious, gritty, complicated story lurking behind the grab-ass soap opera.

Slate Dana Stevens

So why did I feel such affection for this scruffy, hokey little movie? Maybe it's the same logic that applies to wine-drinking itself: Sure, a great claret would be ideal, but an OK rosé is better than washing down your dinner with water.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Tasha Robinson

Trouble is, it's too rambling and digressive to feel focused, yet too calculating to feel as observational and natural as a good Altman flick.

Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

Wine may be sunlight held together by water, as Galileo said, but Bottle Shock is held together only by Alan Rickman.

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jason McBride

For all of its intermittent, crowd-pleasing charm, oenophiles (and cinephiles, for that matter) might be better off putting their money toward a good bottle of Robert Mondavi.

The New York Times A.O. Scott

Bottle Shock is unable to figure out what kind of movie it wants to be, and flops around between madcap comedy and rousing drama. To borrow a wine-snob term of art, it lacks structure.

Philadelphia Inquirer Steven Rea

A great story - and a true one, more or less - Bottle Shock nonetheless fails to deliver much in the way of entertainment.

Los Angeles Times Michael Ordona

The soul of the grape, that thing that elevates a wine to greatness, proves here as elusive on screen as in the bottle.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Light-bodied comedy.

Miami Herald Rene Rodriguez

Bottle Shock often feels out of place on the big screen, but it would probably play a lot better as a weekly half-hour TV show.

Baltimore Sun Michael Sragow

Bottle Shock wastes that intriguing bit of history and some seductive Napa Valley settings on a bland script that's part period piece, part underdog fable.

Village Voice Robert Wilonsky

The movie should have been more like Rickman: sparkling and light, with just a hint of acid. Instead, it's a huge gulp of vinegar.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

Unfortunately, Miller never finds the right balance, so while there are some sweet notes, the pileup of clichés ultimately leaves a slightly acrid aftertaste.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Stuff the cork back in: This wine movie was sold before its time.

San Francisco Chronicle Reyhan Harmanci

This schlocky period piece doesn't do the pioneering Northern Californians justice. The script is overwritten to the point of parody.

The average user rating for this movie is 5.5 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Deborah K. gave it an8:
Found this movie to be very refreshing! Maybe it's because I was 18 in "76" or maybe it's the fact that I love California wines. It had a really good feel about it and seemed like real life. Sorry I didn't see it until it was on a pay channel. Have watched it 3 times.

Johnny2cents gave it a4:
Bottle Schlock. What could have been a Grand Cru turns into a Grand Poo. Uninspired, unconvincing and unbelievable. I am sure that this was so not the way it went down and that the real Barrett's must have cringed at watching themselves portrayed as cliche American morons.

Den M. gave it a1:
Better to be called "Bottle Schlock." What a disappointment. Amazing how Hollywood can mess up a great story through poor screenwriting, bad direction, really bad set design, detectable wigs, unskilled makeup, and cinematography that looks like a TV commercial from a Learning Tree class. Somebody should have kept the camera boom, the helicopter, and the yellow filter away from that cameraman. This film was so bad, we made lemonade, so to speak, and actually had fun making fun of the film, catching all the errors, continuity problems, moving reflectors, and atrocious editing. Wow! I need a glass of good wine!

Rick D. gave it an8:
Small.simple, and, although the love story was a bit contrived, real and engaging. Strong performances by Rickman and Pullman, with a nice little supporting performance by Freddy Rodriquez. Exquisite to look at and absorbing throughout, I consider this a lttle gem that uses its talented cast to create believable characters acting like people act (with enough theatricality to keep it interesting). Nicely done!

Francois T. gave it an8:
A delightful and delicate movie, very funny with excellent and sensitive characters. I really enjoy this story because I'm a native french-speaking just visiting the USA (AZ) for a couple of months, so that I am really comparing both cultures. I think this movie does pretty much the same by putting together two frames of life, two slices of such different points of view. To be enjoyed!

Jay H. gave it a6:
Good cast, well acted, especially Alan Rickman. Finely written, but it does have a few slow moving patches. I also wasn't impressed with the period detail. Overall, it is a satisfying film though.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
Loved it! Saw the movie on two occassions and was entertained on both occassion. Had the right amount of humor, romance and rooting for the underdog. Plus California wines rule!

Bottle Shock Freestyle Releasing

Bottle Shock
Freestyle Releasing