It’s been a week since Matthew Perry’s death and while the world is still coping with the loss of of one of our ubiquitous “Friends”, there have been a few retrospectives pointing out that Perry’s favorite film of his was also his best: the 1997 romantic comedy Fools Rush In. While (like his costars) Perry’s silver screen filmography could never match up to his iconic television role, this movie is an underrated gem that deserves more attention.
The success of any rom-com often starts and ends with the chemistry of its two leads, and Perry has it with co-star Salma Hayek in spades. Both are in their primes, giving wonderful performances to a relationship that feels sexy, funny, honest, and earnest. Perry plays a New York real estate developer who is in Las Vegas temporarily to oversee the construction of a new nightclub, and Hayek is a young photographer. They meet in a chance one-night romantic encounter, only for Hayek to eventually find out that she is pregnant, leading them to get hitched.
If the premise itself sounds a little hokey and well-tread, that’s because it is, but you immediately forgive that while watching it. Hayek’s character being Mexican-American, with Perry being a WASPy New Yorker (to give you a sense of how white he is, he actually says (in the middle of an earnest monologue), “this morning, I couldn’t decide between a Texas burger and a tuna melt”), leads to a lot of fun culture clashes – they end up fighting about all sorts of things from family and religion to their goals and careers. The humor in the movie has actually aged pretty gracefully for a 90s rom-com, and what really makes the movie tick is that it is cute, charming, and warmhearted.
There are a lot of wedding movies, but this is the rare newlywed movie. There is a real commercial sensibility and appeal to the movie, but also a certain maturity and authenticity in its execution and performances. My Big Fat Greek Wedding comes to mind, but this focuses much more on the relationship between the actual couple, both of whom are real, fleshed out characters. Perry is more restrained than when he’s playing Chandler, but still gets to showcase his best assets, including his slightly brazen sense of humor that’s perfect for committing cultural faux pas from the very beginning. This is not just played for laughs – it also shows how white-privileged and unaware he is, but also sets the table to show his future growth and willingness to learn.
You’ll see the plot turns coming from a mile away, but you’ll remain engaged because the characters will act and react in believable and human ways that we are not as accustomed to seeing. The representation here is also a strong suit – it doesn’t bash you over the head with it, and is subtly marketed, but is a great Hispanic movie (there is a bit with the parents that feels like a modern Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?, and as a bonus, this is also one of the few movies to use Las Vegas as a character that is more than just the strip. Just like Elvis Presley’s song, Fools Rush In is a low key banger and a worthy watch in any context, but is especially great to revisit now.
Now available to rent online.
