Director: Nick Corirossi
Writers: Nick Corirossi, Armen Weitzman
Stars: Armen Weitzman, Nick Corirossi, Sarah Ramos
Synopsis: Jack Jr, Miles Jr, and the gang are back for one last wine-related journey set forth by the mysterious “Sommelier.” Joined this time by Puck, a fan of The Napa Boys comics, the group will learn about love, loss, friendship, and viticulture.
Who would’ve thought that the ever-growing, multi-million dollar Napa Boys IP would reach its fourth installment, and a spinoff entirely focused on The Napa Girls bowing out in theatres soon? Well, here we are with THE Napa Boys 4: The Sommelier’s Amulet, and fans of the comics – and prior films – will not be disappointed. After Napa Boys 3: Return of the Grape, the franchise had peaked, but somehow director Nick Corirossi has given us a bolder, more thematically rich entry than its predecessor. How he pulled it off feels like a miracle, and yet here we are.
Of course, I’m joking. The Napa Boys is not part of a franchise, although this movie is introduced as the fourth installment of a longstanding intellectual property and runs with it, which could prove disconcerting for audiences, but is, in actuality, one of the greatest troll jobs I’ve likely ever seen. Not all of it works, and I suspect many will hate this feeble-minded, pea-brained comedy that seems to throw every joke targeted at four-year-olds in a blender and see what sticks.
Did I laugh? Yes. More than once? You bet. There’s something so stupid about it that your eyes eventually can’t look away, even during a sequence that involves, as a character would mildly put it, “shit and cum.” That scene is definitely the most disgusting, unbelievable thing about this extremely dumb movie, yet its sincerity can’t be overstated. At any moment where you think Corirossi will open up the film to give some texture to the characters, from the sex-crazed Jack Jr. (played by Corirossi himself), the depressed Miles Jr. (Armen Weitzman), or the Napa Boys superfan Puck (Sarah Ramos), who wants to be a part of a group of wine aficionados who travel to Napa County for the Great Grape Festival, he does the exact opposite.
None of the characters has a modicum of development, nor are they people you’d want to spend time with. They’re all ridiculously selfish, perverse, and completely misogynistic towards any women they meet. That may be why some audiences will be immediately put off by the film’s gross-out humor and attempts at empty provocation, and there definitely are some jokes that don’t land as well as others (sadly, more often than not). Anything revolving around the main antagonist, Squirm (Paul Rust), is a bit more childish than funny, but perhaps that’s the point?
The thing is, this movie is utter nonsense. In fact, it’s pure nonsense, distilled from the nether regions of stupidity. You can’t get any more nonsensical than that. You’re either fully on board with it from the moment it opens and consistently tests your patience, or you aren’t. In my case, I love any good movie that blatantly antagonizes its audience and directly tells them, “You are wasting your time, and we’re going to make sure you realize this,” although it might not be the stroke of genius Corirossi might have hoped for. Still, the visual gags and DIY inventiveness of its filmmaking are as good as Matt Johnson’s Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie, which more than makes up for the movie’s so-so verbal humor.
That said, there are a number of incredible quotes, such as “Napa Valley is the closest Earthly embodiment of Cesar Catalina’s vision for Megalopolis,” or “Don’t shoot up your school! If there’s anything that ruins the vibe in America, it’s a school shooting.” If this level of dark – almost niche – comedy doesn’t make you laugh, perhaps this thing isn’t for you. However, if you’re a sucker for a generational shitpost, you’ve come to the right place. Everything feels so off, yet the actors are perfectly in tune with the atmosphere they want to convey. They want you to embark on this crazy, nonsensical journey and have a bit of fun, even if it’s likely going to offend many, many people.
But Corirossi doesn’t care, and neither should you. However, one has to recognize that this movie won’t be for everyone, and there will be critics (and audiences) who will say that The Napa Boys is one of the worst movies ever made. I am not one of those people, even though I appreciate Quentin Dupieux trolls more than this film. Bring on The Napa Boys 5 and The Napa Girls. The world needs real cinema, now more than ever.
