Mamoudou Athie is a name that you may not recognize immediately, but the actor is consistently a standout in the various projects he’s starred in. Whether that’s as one of the supporting actors in films like “The Front Runner,” “Unicorn Store,” or “The Circle,” or in the underseen Facebook series “Sorry for Your Loss,” he’s proven himself to be one of the most interesting actors working today, who is just waiting for that breakout performance. Perhaps he’ll get that chance with the upcoming Netflix film, “Uncorked.”
In the new film, “Uncorked,” Athie plays Elijah, a young man that is being groomed to take over his family’s BBQ restaurant, but instead, dreams of becoming a world-class master sommelier. His family reacts in a way that would make you think that maybe he told them he wanted to walk on the Moon or steal the Declaration of Independence. Basically, they’re shocked and very much confused.
The new film stars Athie alongside Courtney B. Vance, Niecy Nash, Matt McGorry, Sasha Compere, Gil Ozeri, Kelly Jenrette, Bernard David Jones, and Meera Rohit Kumbhani. “Uncorked” is written and directed by Prentice Penny. The filmmaker is probably best known for writing and directing episodes of “Insecure,” as well as penning installments of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Happy Endings,” and “Scrubs.”
“Uncorked” hits Netflix on March 27.
Here’s the synopsis:
Fueled by his love for wine, Elijah enrolls in a course to become a master sommelier, an elite designation given only to a handful who are able to pass its notoriously difficult exam. It’s a dream that upends the expectations of his father, Louis (Courtney B. Vance), who insists Elijah take over the popular Memphis barbeque joint that’s been passed down from father to son since its inception. Elijah struggles with the demands of school and a new relationship, while Louis wrestles with the feelings of his son rejecting the family business until a tragedy forces both of them to slow things down.