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We’re nearing the end of the year, which means streaming platforms are just getting started with their annual batch (read: Yuletide assault) of schmaltzy Christmas films, starring absolutely no one you’ve ever heard of.
Nothing new here, but one such saccharine rom-com has emerged as an early seasonal success story.
Starring Minka Kelly and Tom Wozniczka, Champagne Problems landed on Netflix earlier this month. It follows American Junior manager and workaholic Sydney Price, who jets off to Paris to acquire the prestigious champagne label Château Cassell just before Christmas.
On a rare night off, she heads to a bookstore and meets Henri Cassell, a dashing Frenchman whose idea of being a local is looking dashing in shops and dashingly hanging out by the twinkling Eiffel Tower under clearly CGIed snow.
Yes, this was written by an American.
The two spend a magical evening together and romance is definitely in the air. But wait, disaster strikes, as it turns out that Henri is actually the heir to Château Cassell and that he despises the company Sydney works for, as it has the reputation for crushing small businesses.
That’s what they call in storytelling circles the introduction of conflict or a narrative obstacle to keep your story moving forward. And look how the film’s title now makes complete sense.
Will the burgeoning couple weather the storm or will it be curtains for Sydney and Henri?
While there’s no sense in being a Grinch about the predictable and lighthearted charms of Hallmark concoctions, as 90 minutes of mindless escapism that’s as far removed from the world’s punishing problems is always welcome, the trailer of Champagne Problems should tell you all you need to know about this cliché-ridden Emily in Paris knockoff, which once again sees a career-driven woman understanding that all her problems can be solved by a smoldering man’s pen- cough penchant for good old fashioned declarations of romance. And macarons.
Seriously, there are so many macarons in this film.
Don’t take our word for it and treat yourself to our favourite review of Champagne Problems, which succinctly encompasses the treat you’re in for:
But for all our snobbishness, Champagne Problems has managed to tally up a staggering 20.5 million views (and counting) since its debut on 19 November, pushing the holiday rom-com to the top of Netflix’s most-watched English film list.
So, while we recommend you spend your time on Netflix watching Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein instead – providing you’re done binging the first half of Stranger Things Season 5 – know that Champagne Problems is proving to be a very popular choice. And despite unfairly comparing it to Emily in Paris, at least this new Netflix confection doesn’t follow an irredeemably vapid American millennial aping Carrie Bradshaw who only exists to delight delusional Instagram-obsessives with Disneyfied Parisian guff and who can’t be bothered to learn the sodding language after four (soon-to-be five) sanity-corroding seasons. So that’s something.
Happy holidays, one and all.
Champagne Problems is streaming on Netflix. The fifth season of Emily in Paris starts on 18 December. Don’t.