The Wrong Paris

Dawn Miranda Cosgrove is a 25-year-old aspiring artist who makes her home in a small Texas town, where she lives with her two sisters and their grandmother Birdie Frances Fisher, who has become their legal guardian after the girls were orphaned. Dawn is overjoyed when she earns admission to an art program in Paris, but the financial reality bites hard: most of her savings went to cover Birdie’s medical expenses, leaving Dawn scrambling to fund two years of study.

A major fan of the dating reality show The Honeypot, Dawn’s sister Emily Emilija Baranac nudges her to audition, knowing that the appearance fee could make the difference she needs. Dawn reluctantly agrees, hoping the experience might also light a spark for her own future, and she’s stunned to discover she’s been cast for a season that will actually take place in Paris, Texas. The air of excitement is tempered by a sense of practicality as Emily cheers her on during a night out, where Dawn meets a dapper, impeccably dressed cowboy in a lively pool hall.

When the contestants board their plane, the twist hits them with blunt clarity: the “Paris” they’re heading to is Paris, Texas, and their base is Silver Spur Ranch. Dawn is introduced to the season’s bachelor, Trey McAllen III [Pierson Fode], whom she already crossed paths with in that pool hall. Dawn is even more surprised when she runs into him again at the ranch; she asks him to cut her loose so she can quit, but producer Rachel Yvonne Orji blocks her, pointing to the contract that would deprive her of payment if she quits mid-season.

Dawn initially believes she can orchestrate a quit, aiming to minimize her exposure, but the social dynamics on the ranch quickly push her toward a different plan. As the contestants navigate an opening barbecue and other elimination events, Dawn finds herself drawn to Trey—despite herself—because his attention feels genuine rather than performative. Rachel weighs the footage and concludes their prior interactions aren’t enough to declare a conflict of interest, which allows the connection to develop further. Dawn’s resolve wobbles as Trey’s own interest in her grows, complicating her initial money-driven motive with real, unexpected feelings.

Reluctantly hooked on the idea of a romance blooming on camera, Dawn learns from fellow contestant Alexis Madison Pettis that there’s potential to boost her earnings by arranging dates with Trey. The realization shifts Dawn’s strategy from avoidance to active competition. She shines during the axe-throwing challenge, she shares a cooking moment with Trey on a date, and she holds her own on the obstacle course, where tensions flare as six remaining women fight for a spot. When the ranch’s horses break free during a crucial moment, Dawn volunteers to help corralling them, and her courage brings her and Trey a few moments of closeness.

That night, the romance reaches a new level as Dawn and Trey sneak away from the cameras for a private day together. They share a rare, unguarded moment—an escape from the show’s glare—before Dawn returns home to share her world with Trey: her metal sculptures and the family who raised her. The moment is undercut when Dawn’s rival Dex?—no, Alexis focuses the camera on a whispered accusation— Lexi Miller [Madison Pettis] tattles that Dawn entered the show for money rather than love. Trey, shaken by the claim and hurt by the suspicion, eliminates Dawn, and the spark between them cools in an instant.

Back in Paris, Dawn continues her art studies, but Rachel stays in contact, urging her to speak honestly about her feelings for Trey. Dawn returns to the final staging area wearing a gown and finds that Alexis and Jasmine [Christin Park] are kept away from the scene, heightening the tension. Trey’s initial skepticism gives way as he learns Dawn sacrificed everything she earned on the show to see him again, revealing a sincerity that can’t be dismissed. He offers a daring proposition: Dawn could reject him live on camera and take $250,000 as a consolation, a gesture that would allow them to part ways on terms, or they could choose to reunite regardless of the show’s rules.

Dawn makes her choice, accepting the gamble and the prize, and the couple finally reunites as cameras can’t legally keep them apart. She takes the money and, with a bold kiss, confirms that love won out over the show’s rigors. The ending lingers on their tentative but hopeful future together, set against the backdrop of Dawn’s Paris-bound artistic dreams that now feel more possible with Trey by her side.

• The film blends small-town roots with a glossy reality-TV veneer, exploring themes of ambition, authenticity, and the complicated interplay between money and desire. The performances carry a light, breezy tone, underlined by moments of genuine tenderness between Dawn and Trey, while the colorful cast—Emily, Birdie, Jasmine, Lexi Miller, and the sharp-witted producer Rachel—adds texture and humor to the journey from a throwaway audition to a life-altering romance.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 13:07