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Parents' Guide to

Wine Country

By Renee Schonfeld, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Midlife buddy comedy with drinking, language, and laughs.

Movie NR 2019 103 minutes
Wine Country Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 4 parent reviews

davispittman
davispittman Adult
October 10, 2019
age 15+

All star comic cast

Wine Country is only worth a watch because of the incredible comic cast. Every one of these women are proven A list comedians and they get multiple chances to show off their skills here. I’d say as long as your kids are 15 or older you should be cool for a funny movie night!
UtterlyConfused
UtterlyConfused Adult
September 1, 2019
age 18+

Such an awful waste of time

This is not only completely inappropriate for any children, it's an utter waste of time for anyone. By twenty minutes in, there has not been a single moment or joke that would make a person with a sense of humor even smile. The constant crudity is draining. The actresses' laughter comes across as cackling and every bit of humor is hollow. The seeming vibe going on between the young waitress and the geriatric character handing out vibrators in the middle of a restaurant is repulsive--downright predatory (think 30-40 year age gap + wealthy vs broke waitress, and so on). The characters are played so joylessly it makes you wonder about the actresses' themselves. It's honestly sad. I'm not sure how someone could watch the final cut of this movie and think, "Let's release this to people who might spend time watching it instead of doing something better with their time, like watching literally anything else. Including drying paint."
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

It's Rebecca's (Rachel Dratch) 50th birthday weekend in WINE COUNTRY. Self-appointed "tour director" Abby (Amy Poehler) has orchestrated the trip from top to bottom, minute by minute. Always a little uptight, Abby can't help but be disappointed when the others aren't as gung-ho as she'd like them to be. For instance, Catherine (Ana Gasteyer), a successful restaurateur, can't tear herself away from her cell phone; Naomi (Maya Rudolph), a committed mom, is silently distracted by impending medical news; Val (Paula Pell) is dealing with loneliness and a broken heart; and Jenny (Emily Spivey, also one of the film's writers) isn't sure she even wants to be there. Still, expectations are high; wine is flowing. The appearance of the rental's owner (Tina Fey) and a "chef" who comes with the house (Jason Schwartzman) bring even more eccentricity to the already heavily populated table. Over the long weekend, mini-conflicts arise, personal struggles are slowly revealed, and the women's loving connectedness is tested to the extreme.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

It's doubtful that any audience could have as much fun as these six best friends appear to be having, even as middle age descends upon them almost without warning. Light on plot but bountiful in character and laughs, Wine Country and the fabulous house at the center of the action are ideal settings for women coming to terms with the half-century marker.

There are wonderful comic sequences. Maya Rudolph is in peak form, and it's great to see Rachel Dratch with a substantial role. In fact, everyone delivers, even those who play familiar roles (the uptight organizer, the workaholic businesswoman, the touchy-feely psychotherapist). Amy Poehler provides a seemingly loosey-goosey, improvisational atmosphere for these terrific actresses to work their magic, and her years in the business have fine-tuned her comic timing and ability to capture a character's heart. As raunchy comedies go, it's worth the time for older teens and adults.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the profusion of profanity, potty language, and swearing in Wine Country. What does the characters' unreserved frankness tell you about them? Do you think it operates as a shortcut to getting to know these women and introduce their longtime connections? Have audiences come to expect this kind of language in "buddy" movies? How do you feel about that?

  • In some movies, locations and/or settings are considered "characters." How were both Napa Valley and the rental house characters in this film? How did the specific locales dictate behavior and plot?

  • Movies are either plot-driven, action-driven, or character-driven. Which of these best describes Wine Country? Explain.

  • What did the film say about friendship? Why do you think some female friendships are so long-lasting and intense? What character strengths (e.g., loyalty, empathy) make good friends?

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