Vintage Wine: Old People Arguing Over Grapes

Should you watch Vintage Wine today? Probably not, unless you’re currently nursing a glass of sherry and feeling nostalgic for a time when film acting meant projecting your voice to the back row of a balcony. If you love classic British character actors doing their best to look annoyed, you'll have a decent time. If you need pacing that doesn't feel like a slow Sunday walk in the park, you’ll be checking your watch within ten minutes.

It’s essentially a movie about a man who refuses to stop working. Seymour Hicks is Sir Charles, and he plays the kind of stubborn old guy that you’d normally avoid at a dinner party. He’s got the whole family tied up in knots because he won't retire. It reminded me a bit of the domestic squabbles you see in Le père prématuré, where the generational gap is just a wall nobody wants to climb over.

There is something about the way these people talk that feels like a play. They don't just speak; they perform. Sometimes a line is delivered with such theatrical flourish it feels like they’re waiting for an applause that isn't coming from the empty air of a soundstage. One scene where the family tries to convince him to step down goes on just a little too long. It’s almost painful.

I noticed a weird detail in the background of the study—the books on the shelves look like they’ve never been touched. Probably because they haven't. It’s all painted wood and props.

The film isn't trying to be deep. It isn't trying to change your life. It’s a bit like watching The Family Shoe, just with more corks and fewer laces. It’s light, breezy, and completely inconsequential. That's not a bad thing, necessarily. Sometimes you just want to see people in fancy suits being petty.

Honestly, the best parts are when the movie stops trying to be a drama and just lets the cast be grumpy. There’s a specific look Hicks gives when he’s being told 'no' that’s worth the price of admission. It’s just pure, unadulterated annoyance. We’ve all felt that way when someone messes with our routine. 🍷

It’s a bit thin on plot, but the dialogue has a nice crunch to it. Don't go in expecting high art. Go in expecting a quiet afternoon at the theater.