Of course, like all movies or books, if you're related to the characters and the storyline, you will like it more than others. And, if you like the genre, the director, the cinematographer, the actors then those will likely even raise your thumb up quicker.
All movies, books, music, artwork, etc. have their own audiences and followers. We are all different in backgrounds, experiences, feelings, characteristics so we all, of course, going to have different tastes and styles and preferences in all avenues of entertainment.
An overrated movie can be (and should be) an underrated movie according to some and not to others. That's what makes this world goes around. Why can't we accept the fact that we're all different and we're all with opinions without getting down to the names calling and/or labeling?
And, don't forget, our opinions often change over the years. The number one movie on our lists today, may not be all that in the years to come. Movies that we loved as teenagers might not be as good as we watch again as adults. (Think of the US Constitution, we change our minds enough to have 27 amendments, from the Bills of Rights to marriage of the same sex. How have we changed with issues such as smoking, marijuana, alcohol, discrimination, sex in the workplace, political correctness, etc.?)
I saw this movie about 12 years ago, it was okay. I just watched it again today, and it still is just okay. So, the movie stands the test of time.

I looked at it as one of those situations where they've been friends for a long time and we probably more compatible back in the day. It's their history that transcends their differences. AlsoMaybe it's the differences that makes them friends. My best friend is much more calm, collected, more an intellectual type whereas I'm excitable, impetuous and emotionally driven.

I don't think you're appreciating the power of general 'friendship'. I'm friends with people who are very different from me. Some of my better friends are people who are completely different from me in various ways. To say that the entire movie is unbelievable because you can't believe in two characters ever being friends or connecting in any way, is ridiculous. Try harder.
As far as finding it boring? That's just personal opinion, and I can't argue with that.

If you were able to see any way the two male leads would link and become friends in this world, you are a better man than I am. They were from two different worlds, the kinds of worlds that are not compatible. To complicate matters even more, neither man was in the least bit likeable or engaging. I found the entire movie to be a terminal bore.

I couldn't disagree more. A buddy movie where the buddies have an uncomfortable tension that winds throughout their relationship. The wine trip was awesome, and spot on, as many of the people I've met at events are pretty pretentious wine snobs.
There are a lot of overrated movies out there. For me I would say the Hangover movies. I thought they were God-awful. But then, I'm not 25, so sitting through an 1 1/2-hour of that annoying slapstick affair, when I would have killed Zach's character in two minutes, and damn sure wouldn't have been a friend to him for two more movies, was too painful to sit through. Terribly unfunny, whereas I cracked up over this one.
Well done movie for someone with a little more refined sense of humor.

Agreed.

you're a bad boy Johnny. You need to be spanked!

Who are these people liking
Sideways
because there's wine in it? Wine tasting is a cover for Miles' descent into alcoholism. The countryside brings them nothing but misery (those ostriches hurt!).
That's sort of like saying you should have liked
You've Got Mail
because you like bookstores.
Of course you can still not like it, but it also is probably too quick to judge if you have no frame of reference for these characters. These are single adults of a certain age trying to hold onto their self-worth. If you're 25 or younger, or if you're one of those people who's always felt comfortable with their level of success, or someone who instantly dislikes a person for their mistakes (and the people on this board who didn't like it seem to fall into one of these categories), then you simply don't have that reference.
But one thing's for sure, it isn't about wine or California any more than it's about Eastern Orthodox weddings.

You are a twat and you are thick
people resort to calling me names and insulting my intelligence

I completely agree with you. I also find it amusing that all of these people claim you have to be intelligent to like this movie and their entire rebuttal is rude ad hominem attacks against the OP.
The pure fact is that different people like different movies for different reasons. Just because the OP didn't like the film does not make him a moron. It means nothing other than he simply didn't like the film.
Sideways is the sort of film that I actually like. I love wine. I love the beautiful countryside shown. I love subtle nuances in character display and dialogue. I love intelligent humor and yes, Sideways had all of these things. But for some reason, I didn't enjoy. I couldn't care about any of the characters. I didn't find the acting to be anything extraordinary. I simply was not entertained by the film.
Of course when I tell people that, rather than accept the fact that all people are different, people resort to calling me names and insulting my intelligence. However, if that is the only way you can defend a movie, by being a jerk to someone that didn't like it it doesn't say much for the opinions of the people who like the movie.

That's false, in my case, at least. I can't stand Adam Sandler movies, and I've never bought wine in a box. What either of those things have to do with a movie being any good or bad is a mystery that not even Sherlock Holmes could solve.

Haha, wonderful observation

Those who didn't like it probably love Adam Sandler movies, and buy wine in a box.

Even if I had ever encountered characters like the ones in this boring movie, I would want to run away and hope that I never saw them again. There was not one single character that I gave a flip about.

One of the most engaging films ever made, with a splendid cast delivering the perfect mix of melancholy and humour. Anyone who has lived will have encountered people such as this, which makes it all the more honest. The dialogue was fabulous, so much so that if I missed a line I'd not hesitate to rewind.
Can't wait until next year when I'll watch it again for the fourth or fifth time.

`You're a moron, this movie is a a masterpiece in subtlety, everything you said is total nonsense.
Favorite films of all time list
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls031708001

Ever hear of the word "influential"? Obviously not.

Why would that have anything to do with whether the movie is any good, or not? Even if you owned a vineyard, it still would not mean the movie is great.

It was popular enough to start a whole new interest in wine, especially Pinot. Sales and interest in both went markedly higher after this film came out and still hold strong; 12 years later.

This message has been deleted.

I wager the starter of this thread is a young guy with limited life experience. Probably expected a comedy action movie with its R rating. This movie had too much dialog for him. This movie rang true for me. I have known the main characters a couple times. Right now I know a Miles and a Jack. I have known a Maya. I've been Victoria's new husband. I have even known the Hitching Post's bartender and Stephanie's mother. Incredibly, I think I've had some of the conversations in this movie. These are real people expertly written and very well cast and acted. I guess my life has been a little lacking, though, because I have not ever known a Stephanie.
I enjoy this movie every time I see it, even though I always hope Miles will change his mind and not steal from his mom and then bail on her birthday brunch.

Everyone feels the same about you.

I hope one day you commit suicide

you are a stupid beep retard, that's all