MovieChat Forums > Bottle Shock (2008) Discussion > Need help with the 'Thunderbird' joke

Need help with the 'Thunderbird' joke

posted 13 years ago by Rob-120
9 replies | jump to latest

"Bottle Shock" is a great movie! I laughed a lot, and thought the script was very well done. The performances were great, especially Alan Rickman. He and Dennis Farina made a great "Hope & Crosby" odd-couple comedy duo.

The one joke I didn't get in the movie was where Rickman is sitting in Joe's Bar, sampling the wines. Joe (Eliza Dushku) walks up to him.

RICKMAN: "These California wines are all...so good."
DUSHKU: "What were you expecting? Thunderbird?"

Sorry, but I just didn't get that one. And yet on the D.C., the directors of the film say it always got a huge laugh with the audiences.

What's "Thunderbird?"

[–] therealman 13 years ago

Thunderbird is what is known as "Fortified Wine". Wine with extra alcohol added. It is also know as "Bum Wine" as it is cheap. You need not be a wine snob to know it is terrible. Gallo winery is the producer of Thunderbird and specifically marketed it to the ghetto.

[–] horsenbuggy 8 years ago

So, like the chocolate wine I buy at Walgreen's? Say what you will about it. But I've never had someone try it and say it was not tasty. Usually people laugh when they see it, try it, and ask for a full glass.

[–] therealman 13 years ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD3FKSOI8FI

[–] Zuider_Zee 12 years ago

Thunderbird is the only wine that goes well with fried chicken, chitlins and turnip greens.

[–] neo71665 11 years ago

Don't forget fried pork chops and watermelon while being stereotypical racist

[–] dhmason6155 11 years ago

It's cheap, high alcohol wine they sell to drunks and winos in poor parts of the inner city. You can usually pan-handle the two dollars needed to buy a bottle.

Just remember this:

What's the word?
Thunderbird!
What's the price?
Fifty twice!

You may walk on the beach, you may swim in the ocean... under SWAT team surveillance, of course.

[–] horsenbuggy 8 years ago

Nothing about that comment was racist. In order to be racist, it would have to mention ... race. All those foods are simply old southern fare. Plenty of southerners from both races grew up eating them.

[–] buckshot69 11 years ago

Thunderbird is some pretty bad wine. It's made to get you drunk and that's about it.

To him mercy is passion With me it is good manners.You may judge which motive is more reliable

[–] Kompressor_Fan 10 years ago

It's on the same level as Ripple or MD-20/20. Dog puke.