Forget Paris (1995)

50% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
51% of users liked it
(9,482 ratings)

Actor Billy Crystal co-wrote, directed, and starred in this romantic comedy. Forty-something couple Andy (Joe Mantegna) and Liz (Cynthia Stevenson) are about to be married, and as they gather with their friends for dinner not long before the wedding, they are told the story of their mutual friends… More Actor Billy Crystal co-wrote, directed, and starred in this romantic comedy. Forty-something couple Andy (Joe Mantegna) and Liz (Cynthia Stevenson) are about to be married, and as they gather with their friends for dinner not long before the wedding, they are told the story of their mutual friends Mickey (Billy Crystal) and Ellen (Debra Winger) as a cautionary tale of where a relationship can go wrong. Mickey is a top referee with the NBA who has traveled to Paris to bury his father, who wanted to be laid to rest with his Army buddies from World War II. The body is somehow lost in transit, and Mickey has an argument with Ellen, who works for an American airline in France. However, she likes his sense of humor, he is taken with her, and after a few days together in Paris, they decide to marry. However, once they return to Mickey's home in the United States, things get complicated; she's not so sure that she cares for his bachelor apartment ("a shrine to watching ESPN"), or juggling her career against his, while both have problems with their respective families. Several major basketball stars and sports figures appear in Forget Paris as themselves, including Charles Barkley, Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Marv Albert. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Billy Crystal
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: May 19, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Jan 18, 2000
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Caryn James, New York Times
Mr. Crystal's style as a director is smoothe and bland.
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
Since the stories are none too startling, it's hard to see why these otherwise bright people should be so enthusiastic about boring themselves.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
With its uneven tone, Forget Paris doesn't have enough comedy or heartfelt romance to eclipse its faults.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
It all works.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
This movie has such a naked desire to evoke the human condition, you want to throw a blanket over it.
Hal Hinson, Washington Post
Shamelessly schmaltzy.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
"When Harry Met Sally" meets "Sleepless in Seattle"
Kim Newman, Empire Magazine
Towards the end you wish they'd just get it over with, but this film usually overcomes even the most cynical viewer's resistance.
, Film4
Some nice one-liners and a bit of good scenery help the story of a whirlwind romance that turns to salt when she later joins him Stateside.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A rather sour romantic comedy.
, Time Out
Like the relationship it depicts, everything goes terribly slack in the middle.
Monica Hayde, Palo Alto Weekly
A very funny movie.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
It's a funny and touching movie.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Um roteiro divertido que inova ao investir em um casal de protagonistas mais maduro do que o habitual.
Kevin N. Laforest, Montreal Film Journal
Ah, did that movie make me feel good.

Read all 15 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

James A

I'll tell you what I would like to forget.
Wahida K

Billy Crystal as Actor and Director, BRILLIANT! This Movie has a tiny bit of everything for Romance and Comedy Fans.
Lenny M

Crystal trying to replicate When Harry Met Sally in the mid 90's. Romantic comedy with a similar formula that WHMS employs, with a few differences. I love that Crystal is an NBA ref, the movie shows him in a montage of games talking with Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Reggie… More
Crystal trying to replicate When Harry Met Sally in the mid 90's. Romantic comedy with a similar formula that WHMS employs, with a few differences. I love that Crystal is an NBA ref, the movie shows him in a montage of games talking with Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Reggie Miller, and he ejects Kareem Adbul Jabbar in his farewell game. This aspect is probably the best thing about the movie and to the plot, mid-90's NBA so good.
♥˩ƳИИ &

This movie just dragged on forever. It was boring and not interesting at all. No chemistry at all between the leads. Just D.O.A. Can't turn this movie fast enough when its on the tele. Billy Crystal has done better, MUCH better.
danny d

pretty decent, at least during the basketball scenes
Richard F

One of the funnier movies out there! If you enjoy Billy Crystal's schtick, you'll find yourself laughing out loud quite a bit. The film gets a bit tired and self-indulging about halfway through, but despite it's plodding, it has a big heart.
Sunil J

Cleverly written and quite funny, this is nothing totally unique but it's heartwarming and very enjoyable. Great cast of couples.

Read all 7 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Billy Crystal as Mickey Gordon

            Debra Winger as Ellen Andrews

            Joe Mantegna as Andy

            Cynthia Stevenson as Liz

            Richard Masur as Craig

            Julie Kavner as Lucy

            Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as Himself

            Marvin H. Albert as Himself

            Charles Barkley as Himself

            E.E. Bell as Angry Fan

            Andre Rosey Brown as Huge Bodyguard

            Bert Copello as Airline Employee

            Robert Costanzo as Waiter

            Sam Crawford as Basketball Player

            Patrick Ewing as Himself

            Richard Haje as Dangerous Man

            Tim Halligan as Doctor

            William Hickey as Arthur

            Clint Howard as Exterminator

            Gregory Paul Jackson as Airline Official

            Bill Laimbeer as Himself

            Rush Limbaugh as Rush Limbaugh

            Nigel Miguel as Basketball Player

            Cathy Moriarty as Lois

            Ron Ross as Insolent Official

            Dawan Scott as Basketball Player

            John Spencer as Jack

            David St. James as Airline Official

            Reggie Theus as Basketball Player

            Isiah Thomas as Himself

            Bill Walton as Himself

            Irving Wasserman as Man in Car

            Spud Webb as Himself

            David Sanborn as Himself

            Tom Wright as Tommy

            Bernard Brown as Basketball Player

            Janette Caldwell as Andy's DAte

            Kevin Johnson as Himself

            Allan Kolman as French Waiter

            Mike McGee as Basketball Player

            Liz Sheridan as Woman in Car

            Kevin Morris as Basketball Player

            Anthony C. Hall as Basketball Player

            Johnny Williams as Lou

            Richard Assad as Suitcase Man

            Jo Farkas as Angry Fan

            Judyann Elder as Ivy

            David Robinson as Himself

            Ken Johnson as Angry Fan
See full cast