Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fode star in a romantic comedy that goes behind the scenes of a Bachelor type reality dating shown. Funny and lighthearted, romantic comedy fans should make a date with The Wrong Paris!
Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Miranda Cosgrove, Pierson Fode
Description: Dawn thinks she's joining a dating show in Paris, France, only to land in Paris, Texas. She has an exit plan — until sparks fly with the cowboy bachelor.
The Wrong Paris
The Wrong Paris stars Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fode in a romantic comedy behind the scenes of a dating show called The Honey Pot. Here’s the trailer:
A rancher since birth, Dawn dreams of pursuing her art and studying in Paris. When she’s accepted to a Parisian art school, she is disappointed to realize that she doesn’t have the funds she needs to get there. Her sister, a huge reality tv dating show fan, suggests she tries out for a dating show called The Honey Pot which is set to take place in Paris. Why not become a contestant, let the show fly her there, and then just get kicked off the show and stay in Paris? Despite not wanting to be on the show, Dawn sees the wisdom of this idea and tries out. She becomes a contestant and everything is going according to plan. Until the production takes off for Paris, and Dawn learns it was a trick–they’re taking the contestants to Paris, Texas to meet a wealthy rancher named Trey. Dawn wants to immediately drop out. But when she meets Trey, she finds herself attracted to his Texas charm. If she can stay on the show long enough, maybe she can earn enough of an appearance fee to fund her flight. Dawn’s intentions and her connection with Trey become complicated as she must figure out what she really wants.
The Wrong Paris Review
Fake dating shows in books and tv have become more and more popular, and I’m 100% here for it. A few of my favorites in the last few years, One to Watch and The True Love Experiment are both great examples. But really, I don’t think it matters whether you like actual dating shows or not–behind the scenes of a dating show is immediately juicy, scandalous, and fun.
The Wrong Paris feels a bit softer and warmer on the sliding scale of fictionalized reality dating show movies/tv shows (UnReal topping this scale on the scandalous side). But it still delivers on the fun and wish fulfillment, which is thanks to Miranda Cosgrove and her chemistry with her cowboy Pierson Fode. Dawn is likable, warm, and down-to-earth–it’s hard to not root for her to get the guy and a trip to art school in Paris. Cosgrove is also naturally funny, which makes this such an enjoyable watch. She sells all sorts of silly antics, like punching a guy twice her size at a bar, and makes it just feel fun. It’s easy to see why Trey falls all over himself the minute he meets her.
Pierson Fode is the cowboy of the moment, and he brings a winking charm to Trey. Trey exudes a kind of confidence meets cheese factor as a millionaire rancher who would happily throw off his shirt and save a kitten from a tree. Everyone seems to be in on the joke that this is the kind of guy that only exists in reality tv. Fode has a lot of relaxed fun with the character.
There are also moments of The Wrong Paris that explore the female dynamics Dawn experiences with the other contestants of The Honey Pot. This is where I think the movie could have gone just a bit deeper–the other female contestants are basically stereotypes. A character like Dawn has the potential, similar to Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality, to bring out different sides of these women and make genuine connections with them. They are all played at such a surface level that the other contestants become mostly forgettable, which felt like a missed opportunity.
Miranda Cosgrove did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter recently where she mentioned that part of what she likes about romantic comedies is that they just make you feel good. That is definitely the aspiration of The Wrong Paris, and I honestly feel like romantic comedy fans will enjoy this movie. One of the reasons I wanted to start The Mid Century Modern Romantic is that I would read reviews for a movie like this that just absolutely slammed it. The reviewer would discuss it as if Netflix thought it was an Oscar contender, not a crowd pleaser. Every time these reviews would get caught up on the predictability of a movie like this. But romance fans deserve more than that. They’re not coming to this movie to see high cinema–they’re coming to this movie to feel good! They’re looking for fun, wish fulfillment, and a happy ending. I was charmed by the relationship here, the behind the scenes of a dating show elements, the Texas glamour shots, and thought it was a fun watch. I think other romance fans will really enjoy this one too!
The Wrong Paris Recipe Pairing
In an ode to the City of Lights, let’s pair The Wrong Paris with my Hazelnut Thyme Champagne cocktails! Add some Texas barbecue in there and you have yourself a viewing party!
