In a world where everything seems to be a dumpster fire, Netflix delivers an escape with its movies and television shows. The Wrong Paris is a story of choices – both good and bad. It’s a story of dreams, dialogue that is cheesy AF, family mixed with the WTF of The Bachelor, and ridiculousness. And hey, it’s a perfect mix of all of it – making it a movie that will allow you an escape from the dumpster fire that is reality.
Miranda Cosgrove stars as Dawn, an aspiring artist whose only dream is to leave Texas and go study in Paris. She’s been accepted, doesn’t have the money to go, and decides to join a dating show for the wrong reasons to try to get enough money to go to school. Why not hit two birds with one stone – earn the money and a free trip to Paris? It’s a win/win decision.
Her sister heads with her to audition for the show. Dawn is interviewed by my favorite character in the show, Rachel (Yvonne Orji). Rachel is a meddling producer who likes Dawn and wants to add her to the cast. Her other producer may not like Dawn, but Rachel is dead set on having her on the show. Rachel is level-headed, full of fun, and knows how to make great television. Orji delivers a performance that makes you laugh, but also makes you like her and root for her. She’s no nonsense, and that, my friends, makes her amazing.
Don’t get me wrong – the plot is cheesy. But cheesy equals goodness. Dawn, on a night out with her sister, meets Trey McAllen III (Pierson Fodé) at the bar. It’s obvious that he’s going to be the “honey” on the television show she’s about to be on. However, that is part of the fun of the movie. He’s aware of who she is, and he is smitten.
Dawn has a secret plan to get the appearance fee and run off to Paris. Only, the girls on the show are sent to Paris, Texas, versus Paris, France. Talk about a plot twist.
Paris, Texas, and a ranch don’t seem ideal for most of the contestants, but for Dawn, it’s a whatever thing. She loves ranches and Texas, but wants to get to Paris, France. She’s determined, but contractual obligations leave her unable to go just that. Time for a new plan – get Trey to kick her off the show and send her home. He won’t do that, though – the more she wants to leave, the more he wants her to stay.
The onscreen chemistry between Cosgrove and Fodé is what keeps you going. Fodé, who I swear I am wondering if his abs makeup was meant to be that contoured, keeps you entertained, by the way that he knows how to act not only with his body but with his eyes. His attraction, his distaste, his enjoyment of the situation, and his pain – they all come out through the eyes.
Trey and Dawn’s connection complicates things for both of them. Trey still needs to date others – and he definitely puts on a show. His heart keeps leading him back to Dawn and the connection he feels with her. Their adventures and the missteps are part of what have you laughing, guessing, and at the end of the day, rewatching.
It’s not to say that the secondary characters in the movie are bad. They aren’t. However, they only add to The Bachelor feel of moments of the show. Cosgrove’s character of Dawn is the one with whom you find more in common. From eating buffalo wings, putting family first, and following dreams – I found myself enjoying that Netflix put the “regular” girl first.
While eventually, Dawn is let go from the show – she did receive that spur – it’s actually more heartbreaking than anything to watch her go on to art school. It’s also honestly frustrating because Trey should have had the balls to just ask her about the information that another contestant leaked to him. Had he just asked her, he would have learned about her true intentions and the entire story.
While communication is key, there isn’t a lot of it in these scenes. While I understand things that move the plot point forward, some cringe came at these moments. That being said, though, communication would have solved a lot of problems.
Over the past few years, Netflix has stepped into the forefront as a trusted outlet for romantic comedies, and The Wrong Paris definitely fits the bill. It’s what rom-coms are supposed to be. It was a good movie, and we’ll be taking no other questions at this time.
