I decided to have my Friday at the movies in my living room. Looking over what was new and playing on the streaming services I found about 4 new movies and decided to see "Uncorked" after reading the synopsis. I made a bowl of popcorn, sat in my recliner, turned on the TV and I was ready!


Let's start off by saying after about 84 minutes into the movie there is a scene of different BBQ meats ready to serve and I wanted them all! I lived in Memphis for 10 years and had some of the best BBQ ever. Okay, what does BBQ have to do with a movie called "Uncorked"? You would think it would be more about wine and it is. I have a fundamental knowledge of wines having worked in restaurants but I learned a lot from this movie.


Wine and BBQ might be a good duo but both are only a minor part of the movie. Without giving any spoilers (if you have been a moviegoer for some time you will know where the screenplay is going) "Uncorked" is about a father (Courtney B. Vance) who owns a BBQ restaurant, originally owned by his father, is training his son (Mamoudou Athie) to take it over from him and help him open another restaurant while the son dreams of being a Sommelier while working in a wine shop part-time to make extra money, aside from working with his father and going to school.


The son, Elijah, is taking a wine course which requires him to go to Paris for part of the semester which he can hardly afford and his father is against while his mother (Niecy Nash) backs him and insists on her husband giving their son the money to go. Oh, by the way, Mom has had cancer.


That's all I'll tell you except all the actors are so believable in their roles that you believe they are who they say they are and though you, probably, know what is going to happen between father and son, to the mother, and the son making BBQ or pouring the wine the director and screenwriter Prentice Penny does a good job of you being involved with the story and the actors.


The picture divides the 104 minutes between Memphis and Paris, with more time in the former and captures the feel of the cities. There is a love story, family conflict, strong supporting cast, excellent performances by the leads, food and wine porn along with warm feelings.