Okay, pull up a comfy chair, maybe grab a soda – remember those giant plastic cups from the video store? – because we're rewinding back to 1995 for a look at Billy Crystal's ambitious romantic comedy, Forget Paris. This wasn't your typical meet-cute, fall-in-love, roll-credits kind of affair. No, Crystal, pulling triple duty as star, director, and co-writer alongside the legendary duo Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (Splash, Parenthood, City Slickers), aimed for something a bit more... complicated. And maybe that’s why this one sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of 90s rom-coms, nestled somewhere between the fizzy highs and the outright forgettable lows. I distinctly remember grabbing this VHS off the "New Releases" wall, intrigued by the Crystal/Winger pairing and hoping for another When Harry Met Sally... knockout. What I got was different, but definitely stuck with me.
More Than Just a Postcard
The film kicks off not with our main couple, Mickey Gordon (Billy Crystal) and Ellen Andrews (Debra Winger), but with their friends gathered in a restaurant, waiting for them to arrive. Led by the ever-reliable Joe Mantegna as Andy, this ensemble (including Julie Kavner, Richard Masur, Cynthia Stevenson, and William Hickey in one of his final roles) becomes our narrators, recounting the tumultuous love story of Mickey and Ellen in a series of flashbacks. It's a framing device that immediately sets Forget Paris apart. It lends the film a conversational, almost anecdotal feel, like listening to friends dish about that couple everyone knows – the one with the fireworks and the occasional collateral damage. This structure, while sometimes feeling a little fragmented, allows the film to explore the messiness after the initial Parisian sparks fly.
Speaking of Paris, the first act delivers that classic romantic sweep. Mickey, a sharp-witted NBA referee, travels to France to bury his father and meets Ellen, a pragmatic airline employee grappling with her own father's illness. Their whirlwind romance against the backdrop of the City of Lights is charming, funny, and fueled by the undeniable chemistry between Crystal and Debra Winger. Winger, known for heavier dramatic roles like An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) or Terms of Endearment (1983), brings a grounded warmth and intelligence that perfectly balances Crystal's neurotic energy. Their banter feels sharp and lived-in, thanks in no small part to the script polished by Ganz and Mandel, masters of blending heart and humour.
Life After "I Do"
But Forget Paris isn't content to just be a Parisian love story. The film bravely dives into what happens next: the move to America, the clash of careers (Mickey's constant travel vs. Ellen's demanding job), infertility struggles, communication breakdowns, and the slow erosion of that initial romantic blaze. This is where the film truly distinguishes itself from fluffier contemporaries. It acknowledges that relationships are hard work, full of compromises, arguments, and periods where things just... aren't great. Remember how refreshing, yet slightly jarring, that felt in a mid-90s comedy? It wasn't all witty banter over brunch; sometimes it was tense silence in separate rooms.
Crystal, as director (his second feature after Mr. Saturday Night in 1992), handles this tonal shift with a fairly steady hand. He doesn't shy away from the more painful aspects of Mickey and Ellen's journey. A retro fun fact: Crystal poured a lot of his personal passion into the film, particularly the NBA storyline. A die-hard basketball fan, he managed to wrangle an impressive lineup of real players and coaches for cameos, including David Robinson, Charles Barkley, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and many more. Filming these scenes often had to be scheduled meticulously around the actual NBA season, adding a layer of logistical complexity to the production. This referee subplot isn't just window dressing; it directly impacts the central relationship, highlighting the sacrifices and strains career demands can place on a marriage.
Not Quite Paris, Not Quite Perfect
While the film's ambition is commendable, it sometimes struggles under the weight of its structure and themes. The constant cutting back to the restaurant framing device can interrupt the flow, and the episodic nature of the flashbacks occasionally makes the central relationship feel less like a cohesive arc and more like a series of vignettes. Some critics at the time felt it was perhaps too much like When Harry Met Sally... in its attempt to chart a relationship over time, but without the laser focus and iconic moments of that earlier classic (which, incidentally, Crystal starred in but didn't write or direct). Forget Paris landed with a bit of a thud compared to Crystal's previous hits, earning around $33 million domestically against a reported $21 million budget – respectable, but not the home run many expected.
Yet, there's an undeniable charm and honesty here. The supporting cast in the restaurant is wonderful, providing much of the film's outright comedy as they bicker and embellish the story. Mantegna, in particular, is terrific as the slightly weary ringleader trying to keep the narrative (and his friends) on track. And the central performances from Crystal and Winger remain compelling throughout, capturing both the dizzying highs and the frustrating lows of long-term love. It felt real in a way many 90s rom-coms didn't dare to be.
### The VHS Verdict
Forget Paris might not be the first title that springs to mind when you think of essential 90s romantic comedies, but it occupies a unique and worthwhile space. It’s a more mature, sometimes melancholic look at love than its sunnier premise suggests, anchored by strong performances and sharp writing from comedy veterans. It dared to suggest that "happily ever after" is often followed by "…now the real work begins."
Rating: 7/10 - Earns points for its ambition, the Crystal/Winger chemistry, the witty script, and its willingness to explore the complexities beyond the meet-cute. Loses a couple for slightly uneven pacing and a structure that doesn't always serve the story perfectly.
Final Thought: In the warm, fuzzy glow of the CRT, Forget Paris was that rental that promised romance but delivered a surprisingly honest look at what keeps a relationship going after the credits usually roll – a bittersweet charm that still resonates today.