Fools Rush In

Starring: Matthew Perry, Salma Hayek, Jon Tenney, Carlos Gomez, Tomas Milian, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, John Bennett Perry, Stanley DeSantis, Suzanne Snyder, Jill Clayburgh
Directed by: Andy Tennant
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance
1997

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: After a one-night stand that results in a pregnancy, Alex (Matthew Perry) and Isabel (Salma Hayek) decide to get married, much to the chagrin of their families.

Review:
Tim: I admit I was a bit surprised by Fools Rush In. It's not effective enough for me to consider it a good movie, but it was a thoroughly decent one. Nothing in the film is new, but the packaging is effective. Director Andy Tennant and the script have no new ideas, but the execution of the ideas wasn't bad. I wouldn't quite say I was a fan of this movie, but it has its moments.

The premise of the film is fairly good. A man and a woman have a one night stand, she gets pregnant, and they decide to get married. The title is quite effective, as it's definitely about the foolishness of rushing into a serious relationship before you know the other person. It's very much a film about cultures clashing, about different worldviews, perspectives, and goals. This aspect of the film is perhaps the most relatable. In some ways, it's amazing that any two people are able to form long-lasting relationships. People are so different and see the world so differently. Relationships are about celebrating the differences between two people while trying to build bridges whenever possible. This movie explores those concepts in an (admittedly) extreme situation.

The cast certainly elevates the material. Matthew Perry is so good in these kind of everyman roles. He's especially funny in relation to other people- his ability to play off the craziness of others is his comedic superpower and he's able to leverage those skills in this film. The role is perfect for him- he's able to connect with the audience, endear himself to viewers, and get us invested in his character. Salma Hayek is equally as effective. She plays her role so well- she brings the complexity of a character used to crossing cultures to the front of this character. She manages to hit the right notes with the character- you care about her and sympathize with the challenging situation she finds herself in. The movie definitely tends to focus on Perry more than Hayek, but Hayek's performance matters so much. She manages to make her character at least somewhat memorable. I thought Hayek and Perry worked well together, had decent chemistry, and were funny. That pairing really helps the movie significantly. The supporting cast is okay, but there weren't really any standouts. Jon Tenney was fine, and the rest of the cast was decent.

The heart of the movie is good and the premise works, but this movie ultimately feels too lightweight. The best romantic dramedies have some level of heft to them. They're memorable, pull your heartstrings, make you feel genuine emotions. This movie doesn't quite get there. It's kind of fun to watch these two navigate this new relationship, but the movie as a whole is too formulaic and generic for its own good. The story is predictable. There's movies that have done this much better than Fools Rush In does. Now, this movie isn't bad at all. I enjoyed it and felt entertained through most of it. It drags in a few places, but those are mostly forgettable. The movie might be a little too lightweight, but it has some really strong moments.

In the end, Fools Rush In doesn't have the staying power of some of the best romantic movies of the 1990s, but I suspect many viewers will be pleasantly surprised by the film. It isn't quite effective enough to be called a success, but it gets pretty close.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Whole Nine Yards, Some Kind of Beautiful, Serving Sara