watchable

Max, a banker (Russell Crowe), lives in London; he soon receives news that his uncle Henry (Albert Finney) died. So, Max inherits the winery in Southern France. He goes to France with the hopes of selling the winery, but what he will find, will make him hesitate.
Of course, he will meet two girls, one being the illegitimate daughter of Henry, and the other a local girl, Fanny Chenal (Marion Cotillard) with whom Max possibly will fall in love.

This movie certainly could have been better, however with a simple plot like this one, it is very doubtful.
What is expected happens, no twists there!
The acting is horrendous - except for Finney and Highmore (young Max). Crowe tends to be a little stuck-up at times, and Cotillard looks disgusted when Crowe and she kiss.
The viewer doesn't get to see much about wine, wineries. The sites shown of Southern France aren't enough to make the viewer visit the area.
The story is based on a book by Peter Mayle... and that, to me, says it all. Mayle = boredom. Therefore this movie couldn't have been a great one.

Watchable once... if you really want to. Otherwise, pass and move on to something more interesting and worthwhile.


5/10