What Is Forget Paris About?
The premise of Forget Paris in 257 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a breezy, humor‑infused look at love beyond the “happily ever after” that follows a wedding, the film follows the unpredictable romance of an American basketball referee and an expatriate airline employee. The story pulls us between the bustling streets of New York and the romantic avenues of Paris, setting the stage for a witty exploration of how two very different lives can collide and create something unexpectedly tender.
Mickey Gordon is a National Basketball Association referee who is forced to confront family obligations when he travels to France to fulfill his late father’s wish for a military burial. The trip quickly turns into a comedy of errors when the airline misplaces the casket, thrusting him into a frantic search. It is amid this logistical chaos that he meets Ellen Andrews, an American working for the same airline, whose resourcefulness and charm make the otherwise solemn mission feel oddly uplifting. Their chance encounter hints at a chemistry that feels both spontaneous and inevitable.
As the pair begin to spend time together, the film balances light‑hearted banter with the genuine challenges of a long‑distance romance. Both characters are tied to demanding careers—Mickey’s nomadic NBA schedule and Ellen’s airline duties—that pull them in opposing directions. Yet the narrative remains buoyant, using the contrast between the fast‑paced world of professional sports and the meticulous rhythm of airline service to underline the couple’s growing connection. Through witty dialogue and picturesque backdrops, the story invites viewers to wonder how love can persist when miles, schedules, and cultural expectations constantly test its endurance.
What Happens in Forget Paris?
The complete story of Forget Paris, from the first scene to the last, in 685 words (about 3 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 4 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
At a bustling New York City restaurant, Andy sits with Liz Liz and the rest of the party as he begins to tell the story of how his friends Mickey Gordon and Ellen came to fall in love, a tale that unfolds with warmth, humor, and a touch of fate. The evening’s mood shifts from casual chatter to a sweeping romance as the focus shifts to the two lovers whose paths cross across continents and years, each moment shaping the other in unexpected ways. The narrator’s cadence invites the group—and the audience at heart—to witness a bond built on shared losses, bold choices, and a willingness to redefine life on the road.
[Mickey Gordon] is a National Basketball Association referee who honors his late father’s final wish by planning to bury him with his World War II Army platoon in France, a plan that is painfully delayed when the airline misplaces the casket. Into this moment of logistical chaos steps Ellen, an airline employee from Wichita working in Paris, who helps locate the missing casket and ends up attending the burial so Mickey won’t have to face it alone. Their unlikely alliance begins on the road back to Paris, where they grow closer as they learn to navigate long-distance emotion and the pull of two very different lives. The journey sparks a quiet, evolving love that causes Mickey to pause his return to the United States, choosing to linger with Ellen as long as possible.
As the seasons shift, the couple’s romance moves from Paris to a more settled life in the San Fernando Valley outside Mickey’s hometown of Los Angeles. Their early happiness is tempered by the realities of career demands and personal sacrifice. When the next basketball season starts, Ellen takes an entry-level customer-service job with American Airlines, while Mickey travels with the NBA. The distance takes its toll, and Ellen’s loneliness grows; she asks Mickey to quit his job, which leads to a compromise: he takes a one-year leave of absence and briefly tries his hand at car sales. Ellen climbs the corporate ladder, while Mickey finds himself tending to her increasingly senile father, Arthur, a situation that brings its own set of frustrations and responsibilities. Arthur’s presence weighs on Mickey and strains their balance, underscoring the loneliness that can accompany even a deeply bonded relationship.
Eventually, Ellen is offered a transfer to Dallas, prompting a pivotal turning point. Mickey refuses to move away from California, so Ellen accepts the airline’s other offer and relocates to Paris. The couple remains technically together in spirit, but the long separations test their marriage, leaving them yearning for each other even as they pursue their respective careers. It seems the lovers are stuck in a pattern of near-misses and near-misses again, with both sides longing for something permanent and shared.
Four months prior to the present moment in the restaurant, a Knicks game adds a new layer of tension and meaning to their story. During the national anthem, an odd moment occurs that becomes the catalyst for a dramatic decision: Mickey decides to go AWOL from the NBA and return to Paris to find Ellen. The moment culminates on the basketball court, where, just as the arena lights blaze after the anthem, the two lovers spot each other and share a kiss that the crowd witnesses in real time. That kiss becomes a symbol of a relationship that has endured distance, doubt, and time apart, proving that love can still reassert itself even in the face of demanding careers and divergent lives.
When the group at the restaurant finally hears the full arc, Mickey and Ellen reappear together, having navigated a long, winding path to reconciliation. They recount their journey to Liz and the others, showing that the bond they forged through patience, compromise, and courage is stronger than the obstacles that once threatened to pull them apart. The tale closes with a sense of hopeful continuity: the two lovers who found each other under unlikely circumstances are still together, still choosing each other, and still ready to face what comes next, hand in hand.
Forget Paris Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
15 key events in the order they happen, from “Mickey buries his WWII platoon in France” to “The couple returns to the restaurant to finish their tale”. 15 events name a place, across 10 locations.
- 1
Mickey buries his WWII platoon in France
Mickey Gordon, an NBA referee, honors his recently deceased father's wishes by burying the World War II Army platoon in France. The plan is delayed when the airline misplaces the casket, risking the ceremony's fulfillment. The mishap casts a shadow over Mickey's pride and the emotional weight he carries as a public figure.
When:Mid-1940s Where:France
- 2
Ellen locates the misplaced casket and attends the burial
Ellen Andrews, an airline employee from Wichita living in Paris, helps locate the missing casket. She ensures the burial proceeds and accompanies Mickey to offer support. Their immediate connection begins to form amid a solemn ceremony.
When:Mid-1940s Where:Paris, France
- 3
Mickey and Ellen fall in love during the ride back to Paris
After the burial, Mickey rides back to Paris with Ellen and their time together deepens into romance. He chooses to delay his return to the United States to spend more time with her. The relationship becomes the emotional centerpiece of his life.
When:Late 1940s Where:Paris, France
- 4
Mickey returns to the NBA; a televised outburst leads to suspension
Loneliness and pressure from life on the road push Mickey to a breaking point during a nationally televised game. He loses his temper and is suspended for a week. The setback forces him to confront the costs of his professional life on his personal happiness.
When:Early NBA career Where:USA (NBA arenas)
- 5
Mickey goes back to Paris to see Ellen; discovers she is separated
Mickey travels back to Paris to visit Ellen, hoping to bridge the distance. He learns that she is married but separated, leaving their future uncertain. The revelation tests their commitment and resolve.
When:Post-suspension period Where:Paris, France
- 6
Ellen arrives in Charlotte; divorce and marriage
Ellen travels to Charlotte to meet Mickey, revealing that she has finalized a divorce. She has left her job in France and the two quickly marry, choosing to build a life together. The decision marks a new chapter in their relationship.
When:Post-divorce Where:Charlotte, North Carolina
- 7
Honeymoon on the road; the couple settles in San Fernando Valley
The newlyweds spend a honeymoon period on the road during the NBA season before settling in the San Fernando Valley outside Los Angeles. They establish a home near Mickey's hometown while continuing to follow his basketball schedule. The move signals stability after a turbulent start.
When:After marriage Where:San Fernando Valley, California
- 8
Ellen takes an airline job; Mickey continues on tour
With life in California established, Ellen accepts an entry-level customer service job with American Airlines while Mickey travels with the NBA. The long separation strains their bond, and each day apart challenges their commitment. They begin to navigate a more complex balance of love and career.
When:Following marriage; early NBA seasons Where:San Fernando Valley, California
- 9
Ellen climbs the corporate ladder; Arthur care
Ellen earns a promotion, climbing the corporate ladder and moving further from Mickey's road life. Meanwhile she must tend to her increasingly senile father, Arthur, adding caregiving to her responsibilities. The dynamic reshapes the couple's daily life and priorities.
When:During Ellen's career advancement Where:San Fernando Valley, California
- 10
Mickey returns to the NBA; Ellen leaves home
Feeling unsatisfied at home, Mickey returns to the NBA, while Ellen is absent from their shared life. He discovers she has left, then learns she had returned to Kansas to help family and hand over Arthur to her siblings so they could work on their marriage. The separation intensifies the longing between them.
When:Later Where:San Fernando Valley; Kansas
Show the other 5 events of Forget Paris Hide the last 5 events
- 11
Dallas offer vs Paris transfer; couples' separation continues
Ellen is offered a transfer to Dallas, but she refuses to move away with Mickey. Instead, she accepts a transfer to Paris, leaving them living apart yet hopeful. The arrangement underscores how career moves keep driving them in different directions.
When:Following Kansas episode Where:Dallas, Texas / Paris, France
- 12
A Knicks game anthem moment sparks a decision
Back in the present, a basketball fan at a New York Knicks game recounts an odd moment during the national anthem. The tale hints at the emotional distance and the choices that have kept Mickey and Ellen apart. It sets the stage for a bold decision.
When:Present day Where:New York City (Madison Square Garden)
- 13
Mickey goes AWOL to Paris to find Ellen
Motivated by the stories and longing, Mickey decides to go AWOL from his NBA duties and heads to Paris to find Ellen. The impulsive move demonstrates his commitment and willingness to risk his career for love. It marks a turning point in their relationship.
When:Present day (immediately after the Knicks anthem moment) Where:Paris, France
- 14
Reunion at mid-court; crowd sees their kiss
In the arena, Mickey spots Ellen in the audience and races to mid-court to meet her. They reconcile there as the lights come on after the anthem, and the entire crowd witnesses their kiss. The moment seals their return to each other.
When:Present day (Knicks game) Where:Madison Square Garden, New York
- 15
The couple returns to the restaurant to finish their tale
Mickey and Ellen arrive at the restaurant hand in hand, now re-united, and finish recounting their story to Liz. The storybook ending frames the dinner and confirms that their love endures through distance and time. The friends witness the realization that love and perseverance prevailed.
When:Present day Where:Restaurant in New York City
Who Are the Main Characters in Forget Paris?
5 characters, among them Mickey Gordon (Billy Crystal), Ellen Andrews Gordon (Debra Winger) and Andy: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Mickey Gordon (Billy Crystal)
Played by Billy Crystal
A National Basketball Association referee who honors his late father's wish by burying him with his WWII platoon. He is loyal, stubborn at times, and driven by duty, yet capable of deep tenderness when love enters his life. His journey tests whether career and family can coexist.
- 🏀 Referee
- 💖 Romantic lead
- 🧭 Duty-driven
-
Ellen Andrews Gordon (Debra Winger)
Played by Debra Winger
An airline employee from Wichita working in Paris who demonstrates practical tenacity and warmth. She takes decisive action to help Mickey and chooses to pursue a long-distance romance, showing adaptability and resilience.
- ✈️ Flight employee
- 💞 Compassionate
- 🗼 Paris lover
-
Andy
Played by Joe Mantegna
A friend hosting the dinner who serves as the narrative frame for the couple's backstory. He orchestrates the gathering and provides the lens through which the relationships unfold, revealing both humor and warmth.
- 🎭 Narrator
- 👫 Social organizer
- 🗣️ Storyteller
-
Liz
Played by Julie Kavner
Andy's fiancée and the person who receives the couple’s tale at the restaurant. She is a keen observer of relationships and helps anchor the story for the audience, learning the couple's history along with the others.
- 💬 Listener
- 🥂 Social observer
- 👫 Friend
-
Arthur
Played by William Hickey
Mickey's elderly father who is senile in parts of the film, adding emotional weight to Mickey's priorities. His care represents family obligations that intersect with personal dreams.
- 👴 Father figure
- 🧩 Family obligation
- 🫗 Elderly
Where and When Is Forget Paris Set?
Forget Paris is set in New York City, Paris, Wichita, Charlotte, San Fernando Valley, Dallas. Here is why the place matters to the story.
Where
New York City, Paris, Wichita, Charlotte, San Fernando Valley, Dallas
The story unfolds across major urban settings, starting in New York City where the dinner scene and social dynamics drive the plot. Paris serves as the romantic backdrop where Mickey and Ellen’s relationship deepens through travel and shared moments, including the return journey and burial sequence. Additional scenes in Wichita, Charlotte, and the San Fernando Valley frame the characters’ ordinary lives—work, family, and relocation decisions—against a backdrop of constant movement.
- 🗽 New York City
- 🗼 Paris
- ✈️ International travel
- 🌉 San Fernando Valley
What Are the Themes of Forget Paris?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Long-Distance Love, Career vs Love and Reunion & Renewal.
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01
Long-Distance Love
Love endures across borders and busy schedules as Mickey and Ellen build a relationship while living in different countries and juggling careers. The film uses travel, separations, and reunions to test commitment, highlighting how affection can persist despite practical obstacles. Their eventual reconciliation underscores the resilience of love when two people choose to stay connected.
-
02
Career vs Love
Mickey’s NBA career and travel demands clash with his desire for a settled life with Ellen. The story examines the price of professional success on relationships, showing how personal happiness sometimes requires sacrifices or compromises. The spectator-filled world of sports provides a charged backdrop for adult decisions about priorities.
-
03
Reunion & Renewal
After periods of doubt and separation, Mickey and Ellen confront their marriage prospects and navigate changes in careers and geography. The narrative culminates in a public display of affection that reaffirms their bond, turning a distant and complicated romance into a shared future. The film emphasizes growth, forgiveness, and choosing each other again.
What Kind of Film Is Forget Paris?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Happy
A warm yet reflective romantic comedy that follows the challenging but hopeful journey of a couple navigating career demands, loneliness, and the compromises required for love to endure.
- romantic
- reflective
- warm
- frustrating
- lonely
- hopeful
- marriage
- long-distance relationship
- career vs love
- compromise
Quiz
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