Netflix’s latest Christmas offering, Champagne Problems, is a forgettable addition to the streamer’s annual slate of festive films. Written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, the film follows Sydney Price (Minka Kelly), a private equity executive sent to France over Christmas to acquire a legacy champagne brand. There she meets Henri Cassell (Tom Wozniczka), the heir to the vineyard, leading to a predictable romance.
The film suffers from a lack of charm and originality, with characters that feel like cardboard cut-outs. Sydney is a stereotypical career woman, obsessed with her phone and ambition, while Henri is the reluctant heir resentful of corporate takeovers. The chemistry between the leads is weak, with Xavier Samuel’s co-worker character having more spark with Kelly in a single scene than Wozniczka manages throughout.
The plot follows the standard romcom template: a meet-cute in a Parisian bookstore, a conflict over the family business, and a twist involving a rival bidder. The film’s attempts at social commentary on private equity feel shallow, and the artificial CGI snow and cheap sets undermine any festive magic.
Ultimately, Champagne Problems is as flat as cheap bubbly, offering little to distinguish itself from the countless other forgettable Netflix Christmas movies. It may provide a fleeting distraction, but leaves no lasting impression.
