Forget Paris MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -1 1/2

Yet another romantic comedy opens close on the heels of WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING and FRENCH KISS. It's FORGET PARIS, starring funny man Billy Crystal, who also directed and co-wrote the script. He's Mickey Gordon, a referee for the NBA with a reputation for making honest but often unpopular calls on the basketball court. In fact, it's not unusual for him to leave a game with a police escort because of his controversial refereeing. Co-star Debra Winger plays Ellen Andrews, the public relations representative for an American airlines based in Paris, where the two meet under very unusual circumstances. Mickey is honoring his father's dying wish to be buried in France alongside his World War II buddies. The airlines loses his father's coffin, and Mickey finds himself hopelessly entangled in bureaucratic redtape at the Paris airport. Ellen steps in to help, and by the end of the week the two are deeply in love. They marry after a brief courtship and find themselves on a rough sea of matrimony. Their relationship is constantly scrutinized by his close friends who share funny, touching and insightful observations about the couple's roller coaster marriage. In spite of advice from friends and counselors, Mickey and Ellen cannot forget Paris or that they love each other. Witty dialogue and a clever love story make FORGET PARIS a romantic comedy to remember.

Mickey and Ellen's whirlwind courtship is remarkably restrained by Hollywood's usual standards. Although it's obvious they are sexually involved, there are no premarital sex scenes. Still, some of their marital woes include fairly explicit dialogue regarding efforts to conceive that is not suitable for children. Also, the usual profanities, obscenities and sexually suggestive dialogue crop up throughout the film. Sexual intercourse takes place once, although it is brief and without nudity. Even though his father had walked out on the family when Mickey was very young, Mickey makes sure the old man's last wish is carried out. Still, his resentment surfaces at the burial, no service, no prayer or expression of love for his father. Ellen, too, tries to do the right thing for her aging father when she invites him to live with her and Mickey. The couple's efforts to make their marriage work is refreshing, with both willing to sacrifice. We just wonder why Hollywood thinks offensive language makes a film more marketable.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Columbia Pictures, 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232