We'll Never Have Paris

We'll Never Have Paris is a 2014 American romantic comedy directed by Simon Helberg (in his directorial debut) and Jocelyn Towne. It stars Helberg, Melanie Lynskey, Zachary Quinto, Maggie Grace, Jason Ritter and Alfred Molina. It is based on the real life engagement of star Simon Helberg to his wife, Jocelyn Towne.[3]

We'll Never Have Paris
Film poster
Directed by
Written bySimon Helberg
Produced by
  • Robert Ogden Barnum
  • Simon Helberg
  • Jocelyn Towne
Starring
CinematographyPolly Morgan
Edited byMollie Goldstein
Music by
  • Samuel Jones
  • Alexis Marsh
Production
companies
Distributed byOrion Pictures
Release dates
  • March 10, 2014 (2014-03-10) (SXSW)[1]
  • January 22, 2015 (2015-01-22) (United States)[2]
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The film had its world premiere at SXSW on March 10, 2014,[1] and was released in a limited release and through video on demand on January 23, 2015, by Orion Pictures.[4][2]

The title is a reference to the famous line "We'll Always Have Paris" from the film Casablanca (1942).

Plot

Quinn (Simon Helberg) and Devon (Melanie Lynskey) have been a couple since high school. Quinn works at a flower shop, and Devon teaches at the local university. Kelsey (Maggie Grace), Quinn's coworker, tells Quinn she's in love with him. Quinn tells Devon he wants to take a step back in the relationship. Knowing it's about Kelsey, Devon storms out and goes to her parents' place.

Quinn goes to Kelsey's. They kiss, and she gives him a handjob. In the morning, an ashamed Quinn visits Devon at her parents and proposes. He ends up confessing what happened with Kelsey. Angered, Devon says they need time apart to figure things out. She suggests he should be with other women so it wouldn't bother him that he has only slept with her.

Quinn finds a former schoolmate on Facebook and sleeps with her. He realises he wants to be with Devon and quits his job. At Devon's parents' place, he finds out she has left for Paris. He sends her flowers and shows up at the door.

In Paris, Devon tells Quinn she is dating Guillaume (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) and doesn't want to be with Quinn anymore. Quinn surprises her at her grandparents, but Guillaume is also there. After the meal, both Guillaume and Quinn give short recitals. In spite of his pingueculitis, Quinn takes out a ring and prepares to propose after his performance. Devon enters with Kelsey, who has come to win Quinn back. Quinn accidentally steps on Guillaume's heirloom violin, crushing it. The two have a slap fight. Ashamed, Quinn returns home.

Devon surprises Quinn at his new workplace. He proposes to her in his car. After she accepts, he tells her about his one-night stand. After a tense talk, and groveling on Quinn's part, Devon takes off the ring and asks Quinn to propose again.

Cast

Production

The film marks Simon Helberg's directorial debut and is his wife Jocelyn Towne's second directorial feature. Filming began in July 2013 in New York City and Paris.[5]

Release

The film had its world premiere at SXSW on March 10, 2014,[6] and was the closing feature at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on June 29, 2014.[7] The film was acquired by Orion Pictures, and was released in a limited release, and through video on demand on January 22, 2015.[2]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 32%, based on 25 reviews, with an average rating of 4.6/10.[8] The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a mixed review, citing it as "genial but not wholly persuasive".[9] Variety deemed it "sporadically amusing, but more often grating".[10] The Los Angeles Times gave a more positive review, calling it "a fun, quirky romantic comedy."[11]

Awards and nominations
Year Festival Category Nominee(s) Result
2014
 SXSW Film Festival Audience Award – Narrative Spotlight
Simon Helberg & Jocelyn Towne
 Nominated
Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award – Best Comedy Feature Won

References
  1. "Schedule - sxsw.com". SXSW Schedule 2014. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  2. Alex Stedman (24 September 2014). "Simon Helberg's 'We'll Never Have Paris' Acquired for U.S. by Orion Releasing". Variety. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  3. "Simon Helberg's Catastrophic Break-up Story - David Letterman". Youtube. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  4. Justin Chang (13 March 2014). "'We'll Never Have Paris' Review: Simon Helberg's Self-Flattering Romantic Comedy - Variety". Variety. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. Mike Fleming Jr (25 July 2013). "'Big Bang Theory's Simon Helberg Makes Directing Debut On 'We'll Never Have Paris' - Deadline". Deadline. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  6. "Schedule - sxsw.com". SXSW Schedule 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  7. "'Big Bang Theory' Star Simon Helberg Takes 'Paris' to Edinburgh". Variety. 30 April 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  8. "We'll Never Have Paris". rottentomatoes.com. 23 January 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  9. John DeFore (11 March 2014). "We'll Never Have Paris: SXSW Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  10. "'We'll Never Have Paris' Review: Simon Helberg's Self-Flattering Romantic Comedy - Variety". Variety. 13 March 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  11. "'We'll Never Have Paris' is a fun, quirky romantic comedy". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
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