Movie Reflection - Forget Paris

Forget Paris is a Romantic Comedy about a basketball referee, Mickey, who falls in love with a airline working woman, Ellen, in the most unusual way. Nonetheless, the romantic development and life after marriage are very realistic.

Mickey met Ellen in the Paris airport where the airline loses Mickey's father coffin. When they finally found it, Ellen went to the empty funeral as she feels extremely bad for Mickey. From then their relationship develops. Despite their major personality differences, we can see that they do have some similarity. One is probably they are both Americans and for Ellen who lives in Paris, she can hardly find someone who can relate to her hometown. Not only so, throughout the movie, we can see that they both are actually quite stubborn in terms when once they make a decision, no one can change it. Also, they both have the determination in keep on trying to improve their relationships. However, throughout their romantic developments, it is their differences that separate them. Research has found that opposite may attract but they don't make marriage and relationship last long. In the movie, we can see clear example in Mickey and Ellen. Ellen was attracted to Mickey at first for his humor, but after they got married, his sarcastic remarks that were supposed to be funny starting to be annoying for her. She also couldn't stand how Mickey is always doing the same thing on weekend nights and order the same meal everywhere he goes. All these were not problem when they started dating. This is probably why Mickey keeps on telling that when in Paris everything was perfect. During that two weeks, they just started dating which explains why they can tolerate and overlook on each other's flaws. When marriage is serious and reality kicks in, everything shattered apart.

We can assume that Mickey and Ellen's relationship in Paris was first just romantic love where it consist passion and intimacy. But the passion weights more than intimacy. This can be seen when Mickey asked Ellen to marry him, and she suddenly confessed that she is dealing with a divorce. This shows that although they have an intense longing for each other, they don't know each other well. However, as the marriage goes, we can identify their love is just empty love, which only consist of commitment. They stay together despite they are not happy in the relationship, and we can see how Mickey complains there is no more passion. They hardly talks to each other as well because of their different working time, which later on results into many conflicts and arguments. Yet, we can see they are trying very hard to reach consummate love where all intimacy, commitment and passion exist. They both tried sacrificing their dream job for the marriage and even went for marriage counselling.

In the film, we can also see how this couple demonstrate the 4 habits for destructive relationship. The most frequently shows is criticism where they would both pick on things they don't like about each other. Mickey would often give sarcastic remarks as well which is very bad for a relationship. This way of destructive interaction is named contempt. Next, defensiveness is portrayed too when they both argues. They would both become very defensive of themselves when they receive criticism. They would blame on each other's absence for their miserably and protect themselves saying how much they love their jobs. Lastly, stonewalling can also be seen when they often take breaks from each other instead of talking it out. They would go on their separate lives for months then come back together after a cool down. Although stonewalling is said to be destructive, sometimes it can act as a cool down session for couples to think clearly on their future, just as Mickey and Ellen.

Personally, I enjoyed this movie as it is super funny. I also like how the movie ends where both Mickey and Ellen are willing to try and fight for their relationships. My favourite about this movie is that it is showed through a story telling way where it started off with Andy trying to introduce his fiancee to all his friends. While waiting for his friends to arrive, he tells her about this unusual story of Ellen and Mickey. As they friends slowly comes, more story of this couple is unfolded. I find it very creative and unique which makes the whole movie more casual instead, unlike other romantic movies that put all emphasis only on the main couples. Forget Paris also makes us think what actually makes marriage and a relationship works. I personally feel that honesty, communication, compromising and trust are very important. Which in this movie, the main thing that separate them are lacking in proper communication. I believe that with effective communication, any problems can be resolved and it helps couple to understand each other more.


And here's a quote from the movie for everyone to think and laugh about

P.S One of the actor is the sound for Marge in my favorite cartoon The Simpson. :D
Trailer for Forget Paris

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