Elijah must balance his dream of becoming a master sommelier with his father's expectations that he carry on the family's Memphis BBQ joint.
Mamoudou Athie
Elijah
Courtney B. Vance
Louis
Niecy Nash-Betts
Sylvia
Matt McGorry
Harvard
Sasha Compère
Tanya
Gil Ozeri
Richie
Kelly Jenrette
Brenda
Bernard David Jones
JT
Meera Rohit Kumbhani
Leann
Jennifer Pierce Mathus
Albert Bichot Worker
Hélène Cardona
French Sommelier (voice)
Djinda Kane
Melanie
Rick Vyper
Master Sommelier #3
Kregg Janke
Teacher #4
Wilfried Capet
Rachael Alethea
Sommelier Student
Michael Gravois
Teacher #1
Alicia Ester
Ava
Rekeitha Morris
Tanya & Ava'a Friend
Marguerite Hibbets
Home nurse
Myron Swift-Parker
Young Louis
Mike Cortese
Sommelier candidate #3
Isaac Slatton
Student
Shaleen Cholera
Sommelier Candidate #1
Megan Warden
Wine Customer
Freddie Vaughn
Sommelier Instructor
Peyton C. Poole
Student
Bob Geabhart
Roscoe
Katrina McElyea
Student
Daniel Johnson
Waiter (uncredited)
Director, Screenplay
Prentice Penny
March 28, 2022
6
This film has a problem with it's pace. The story is of a young man (Mamoudou Athie) who is passionate about his wine and who wants to become a professional sommelier. He faces the usual reservations from his restauranteur father (Courtney B. Vance) - who yearns for him to follow in his footsteps at his rib-joint. Things come to a head when he has the opportunity to travel to Paris with his student friends to finesse his skills and - with the help of a family fund-raiser - he just about manages to get there (going halves with his friend) before his cancer-stricken mother causes all concerned to reappraise their priorities. The concept is well-trodden, but the acting is sensitive and makes a decent attempt to break down stereotypes - both of a racial, and of a gender nature - using wine as an interesting conduit. Unfortunately, it lacks oomph - the performances and direction have a sort of laissez-faire style about them - the passion is described well enough, but we don't see much evidence of it in action.