'Wine Country'—A Movie Review

Grab all your gal pals together. We’re in for a wild birthday weekend bash! Too bad we’re probably not going to remember half of it.

Wine Country, directed by Amy Poehler, is a newly released Netflix film about six women going away for the weekend to enjoy a 50th birthday celebration. Everything does not go as planned, leading to arguments in this comedic and endearing story about friendship.

Being an Amy Poehler fan, Wine Country immediately peaked at my interest. I could not stop laughing while watching this movie! Filled with hilarious well timed comedic scenes mixed together nicely with endearing friendship moments, Wine Country is an important lesson for friends of all generations.

Starring a power cast of phenomenal actresses, Amy Poehler (Abby), Rachel Dratch (Rebecca), Ana Gasteyer (Catherine), Maya Rudolph (Naomi), Paula Pell (Val), and Emily Spivey (Jenny) make you laugh so hard until your insides hurt. Also includes an appearance by the incredible Tina Fey as Tammy.

Jay Larson stars as Brian who, as he explains, comes with the house the women are staying at. No matter how small your part is, nobody overshadows anyone. Larson asks one of the funniest questions and receives the best response from Poehler in one scene. Honestly, that was my favorite scene.

One unexpecting character that I never thought would have an impact on the story is Jade, played by Maya Erskine. As a millennial, Jade shows the women how the world has changed, both positively and negatively.

Wine Country is a realistic, lighthearted, and relatable movie. Each woman has a differing relationship having a conversation. I actually felt as if I was watching myself and my own friends staying up late because we’re having fun reminiscing on our high school days.

That’s the best part of Wine Country. The dialogue. Have you ever been lost in conversation after conversation with your friends on various topics until you ask how you went from a subject about school to a what-if scenario about where you would hide if alien bears attacked the world? Yeah, that’s the angle of the dialogue in Wine Country.

The setting for Wine Country is beautiful. The house is cozy giving a warm home feeling. But the best views are when you step outside to witness the tall mountains from afar. The crew went above and beyond to give the setting an enriching quality.

I really want to tag along with the women sipping down wine. The mountains, grassy plains, and the scenery capture the essence of the story.

Letting go, friendship and truth play as important themes. Wine Country is a film women can identify with. This group of women has hit rocks in the road. Aging is difficult. Metaphorically, you have to roll with what life throws at you.

The world is a gigantic place. We’re free to explore. Of course, life holds us back, but we need to take the time to call our friends and make plans to get together. Don’t forget about your friends. They are the most important people.

Don’t pay attention to the negative reviews about this movie. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. I laughed out loud so many times. Sure, I didn’t get all the jokes, but the difference in generation plays an enormous factor. Friends have gone from mailing handwritten letters to snapping goofy pictures of themselves for conversation.

Wine Country may not deliver the same response to all audiences. I recommend to give it a watch. I especially encourage you to watch Wine Country with all your gal pals and get drunk with a glass of wine.