Chelsea Alexandra
The Napa Boys kicks the door open and assumes you already know the lore of this group of friends and their zany misadventures in Napa Valley. It’s a knowingly absurd comedy that presents itself as the fourth installment of a long-running franchise that doesn’t actually exist. The film immediately immerses you in this wine-soaked saga, tossing out references to past adventures, spinoffs, and evolving lore. The meta setup is easily the strongest joke in the entire film. The opening makes you second-guess yourself, asking: Did I miss the first three installments? Are there even three other installments?
Directed by Nick Corirossi and co-written with Armen Weitzman who also star in the film, The Napa Boys 4: The Sommelier’s Amulet is the “fourth” entry in the increasingly unhinged fictional franchise about a band of friends whose adventures blend mystical lore with wine-soaked insanity. This time, fearless leader Jack Jr. (Corirossi) persuades his reluctant co-captain Miles Jr. (Weitzman) to reunite with the crew for one last journey through Napa Valley. Joined by Stifler’s Brother (Jamar Neighbors), Kevin (Nelson Franklin), and Mitch (Mike Mitchell). Along for the ride is Puck (Sarah Ramos), an eager podcaster and devoted fan of the Napa Boys graphic novel, who sees the trip as an opportunity to become one of the boys.
Their adventures begin when the gang finally reach Napa Valley and reunite with Mitch. Mitch is preparing to compete in a prestigious wine competition. In any case when the Napa Boys arrive, things begin to take a left turn and chaos ensues and it puts the future of Mitch’s vineyard in murky water. This is when the gang begin to follow the cryptic guidance of a mysterious Sommelier (DJ Qualls) which leads to another helluva time in Napa Valley for the boys trying to help secure the future of Mitch’s vineyard.
The Napa Boys is a comedy simply made for the love of the game. For the love of the bit. This is a comedy from start to finish. It is comedically relentless, never allowing you to catch your breath in between barrels of laughs. Comedy will always be subjective. What works for some won’t work for all. The Napa Boys are no exception to that rule. Not all of the jokes will land. Some of them are a bit crass so if that type of comedy isn’t for you, some moments might fill with dead silence. However, the film’s second greatest strength is its ability to never slow down. It never gives up on its audience and is dedicated to providing a fun time. When one joke falls flat another one is already barreling in to suck you back in. When jokes and gags land, they land hard. It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you’re into franchise overload and the wild chaos of alt-comedy, this one’s probably right up your alley.
The performances in The Napa Boys are fully committed to every bit. Everyone is all in on the absurdity. It is clear that Corirossi and Weitzman are having a fun time and relish playing Jack Jr. and Miles Jr. The two dive headfirst into their characters and bring the oddball traits to the front with sharp timing rather than going completely off the rails with randomness. Ramos as Puck brings a mix of enthusiasm and straight-faced sincerity that contrasts nicely with the mayhem around her. The supporting cast, from Jamar Neighbors and Nelson Franklin to the cameo-heavy lineup of David Wain, Riki Lindhome, and Natasha Leggero, all play like they’re having the time of their lives, which makes the whole ensemble feel alive and unpredictable. Everyone is fully committed to pushing the limits even when it gets a bit too wild or gross.
However, the standout in The Napa Boys is Rust who goes completely unhinged in the best way for this film. He leans into the villain role with this twitchy, almost operatic intensity that makes every line feel slightly unpredictable. As the nemesis to the Napa Boys, Squirm, Rust really taps into a very specific type of oddball. He is borderline pathetic to the point of embarrassment but it makes for an unforgettable and funny performance.
There is a controlled chaos approach to Corirossi’s direction. Although what is happening on screen is pure madman chaos it is never completely out of control. Corirossi leans into this almost sketch-like structure approach with The Napa Boys. He lets scenes stretch just long enough to land or to be deliberately uncomfortable, but nothing overstays its own welcome. The pacing is fast and loose, which works in its favor. It works well especially when jokes are landing. Visually, there is a simplicity to The Napa Boys which allows for the performances to be the center of attention.
At the core of The Napa Boys, are a group of funny creative performers who believe in the lore that they are trying to present to an audience and what they present is peak comedy. This will not be a movie for everyone, and it doesn’t try to be. It’s comedy for comedy’s sake which is what makes it so special.
