Netflix's latest foray into festive filmmaking has landed with a decidedly flat pop, as critics deliver a scathing verdict on the new Christmas romantic comedy Champagne Problems.
The film, which began streaming on the platform recently, features Minka Kelly, 45, as an American executive dispatched to Paris to secure a deal with a prestigious champagne house just before Christmas. Her corporate mission is quickly complicated when she embarks on a whirlwind romance with a local Parisian, played by Tom Wozniczka, only to discover he is the son of the champagne brand's founder.
A Wave of Critical Disappointment
The critical reception has been overwhelmingly negative, with reviewers labelling the movie as everything from 'charmless' to 'forgettable'. In a particularly damning two-star review, The Guardian's Adrian Horton declared the film 'lacks fizz'. Horton described the central romance as 'mostly charmless' and part of Netflix's relentless 'annual onslaught of forgettable festive films'.
Horton's critique didn't stop there, adding that the movie was 'so disposable I forgot I had even reviewed it,' and comparing it to 'cheap bubbly, appropriately flat and situational.' The performance of lead Minka Kelly was assessed as feeling 'more maternal presence than a romantic lead,' while Tom Wozniczka was said to provide only 'exactly the dollop of French charm with mild self-torture and nothing more.'
Lack of Spark and Originality
Other prominent publications echoed this sentiment. The Wall Street Journal's John Anderson insisted the film is 'as sticky as a half-finished candy cane.' Anderson noted that Champagne Problems attempts to walk a line between a classic Hallmark movie and a self-aware genre parody, but all its 'coincidences and conflicts are conjured up, per the necessities of a quick-cooking holiday love affair.'
A recurring complaint among critics centred on the lack of believable chemistry between the two leads. While Anderson conceded that Kelly 'is the freshest thing about Champagne Problems,' he pointed out that she and Wozniczka 'don't generate a great deal of natural heat.'
Andrew Morgan of the news site What's on Netflix largely agreed, observing that Kelly and Wozniczka 'are not a classic romantic pair in a sense as they don't ooze sensuality.' He did, however, offer a slight counterpoint, suggesting they possess a 'warmth & believable emotional connection that makes the audience lean in.'
Predictable Plot Drains Festive Magic
The film's lack of originality was another major point of contention. For Archi Sengupta of Leisure Byte, the conflict is 'a tale as old as time and has no depth that differentiates it from others.' Sengupta elaborated, stating, 'The film is repetitive and a bit boring, because you already know what's going to happen. Moreover, I didn't believe the romance at all as it felt very scripted and overdone.'
This manufactured feel, according to the critic, ultimately 'takes away from the magic of falling in love during the most romantic time of the year, which is such a bummer of epic proportions.'
Brian Orndorf of Blu-ray.com singled out the movie's conclusion, opining that it dragged to a close 'with the same old moves seen in hundreds, if not thousands of these pictures.' Orndorf, who gave the film a six out of ten, criticised director Mark Steven Johnson for opting for 'plasticized fantasy instead of trusting the moderate intimacy and light humour' established earlier.
Despite the barrage of negative reviews from professional critics, early viewer reactions on social media suggest a more welcoming audience. One user on X declared, 'Oh I am seated for this one. Topping the hearts for sure,' while another admitted, 'I'm such a sucker for christmas romcoms.' A third commented that they were currently watching the film 'and enjoying it,' indicating that for some, the festive formula still holds its appeal.
Champagne Problems is now available to stream globally on Netflix.
