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Netflix’s ‘Champagne Problems’ Streams to Lukewarm Reviews but Cozy Holiday Appeal

Critics say the Paris-shot holiday romance favors scenic escapism over originality.

Overview

  • The film premiered on Netflix on November 19 as part of the streamer’s 2025 holiday rom-com slate.
  • Minka Kelly stars as executive Sydney Price opposite Tom Wozniczka’s Henri Cassell in a business-meets-romance centered on the fictional champagne house Château Cassell.
  • Writer-director Mark Steven Johnson returns to the genre with a supporting cast that includes Thibault de Montalembert, Sean Amsing, Flula Borg and Astrid Whettnall.
  • Early reviews skew mixed-to-negative on freshness and emotional depth—The Guardian says it “lacks fizz”—though several outlets praise the leads’ chemistry and light humor.
  • Shot on location in Paris, Épernay and Reims, the film’s scenic backdrops are highlighted as a key draw that early viewers on social platforms say delivers feel-good escapism.