The Wrong Paris review — Sparks, reality love, and the charm of clichés

The Wrong Paris lands on Netflix with Miranda Cosgrove leading a story that blends rom-com tropes with reality show antics. It’s a movie that doesn’t pretend to reinvent the genre but leans into its formulas with enough charm to make two hours go by easily (even if you won't want to revisit the film in the future).

Viewers meet Dawn, a small-town girl accepted into an art program in Paris, France, but short on funds to make the dream real. When she’s lured into the dating competition The Honeypot, she believes it’s her ticket overseas, only to discover it’s filmed in Paris, Texas. The premise is thin but playful, and the film thrives on how Dawn’s wit and fire carry the otherwise predictable beats.

Dawn’s spark in a familiar setup

The opening act of The Wrong Paris establishes Dawn not as the passive rom-com lead but as someone who can hold her ground. When a man mocks her sister at a bar, she turns the joke back on him, setting the tone for a character who isn’t afraid to push back.

That same night, her dance with cowboy Trey McAllen III strikes the spark that fuels the rest of the plot. It’s instantly clear he’ll be at the center of The Honeypot, and while the trajectory is obvious, the energy between them keeps it afloat.

Promo imag for The Wrong Paris | Image via: Netflix

A dating show wrapped in clichés

The Honeypot borrows heavily from the likes of The Bachelor. There are rivals, grand entrances, awkward encounters, and a production team pulling strings for drama. Rachel, the show’s producer, keeps the chaos moving, while Lexi and the other contestants embody every familiar archetype of reality TV romance.

The competition framework adds some playful tension, but it’s less about suspense and more about letting the audience enjoy the comfort of knowing exactly where things are headed.

Performances that lift and drag The Wrong Paris

Cosgrove’s Dawn is the anchor in The Wrong Paris, blending sincerity with comedic timing that feels natural. Pierson Fodé brings the charm required of a reality TV bachelor, though at times his delivery drifts toward wooden.

Supporting players vary widely. Some roles, like Frances Fisher as Dawn’s grandmother Birdie, add warmth, while others lean into overacting that drags scenes down. The unevenness doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does remind the viewer that this isn’t aiming for awards, just amusement.

Frances Fisher, Hannah Stocking, Christin Park, Madison Pettis, Madeleine Arthur, Miranda Cosgrove, Yvonne Orji, Janeen Damian, Veronica Long, and Emilija Baranac attend ""The Wrong Paris"" Screening Event at TUDUM Theater on September 10, 2025 in Hollywood, California | Image via: Getty

The comfort of a generic rom-com

At its core, The Wrong Paris is exactly what it sets out to be: light, romantic, and disposable fun. The stakes never feel high, the twists are foreseeable, and yet the film works as background joy.

For audiences who want to unwind with familiar beats such as the small town girl with big dreams, the cowboy with a heart, the reality show stage, it delivers without overpromising. It’s not memorable or revolutionary, but sometimes that’s the point of a rom-com like this.

Rating with a touch of flair: 3 out of 5 sparks that glow just enough to light a cozy evening.