Since Matthew Perry's death, fans have been reliving the late actor's screen career - a journey that most notably included playing Chandler Bing on Friends from 1994 to 2004 .
In addition to the hit NBC sitcom, Perry has received critical acclaim for his work on "The Ron Clark Story" and "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." On screen, his box-office hits include "The Whole Nine" and "Back to 17," in which Zac Efron played a younger version of Perry's character.
But when exploring Perry's oeuvre, it's easy to miss a true hidden gem: 1997's Fools Rush In .
Getting pregnant overnight and encountering an unexpected surprise
If you haven’t seen Fools Get In – then you should watch it! — This romantic comedy follows a new couple, Isabelle (Salma Hayek) and Alex (Perry), who have a one-night stand that leads to an unplanned pregnancy. (Think of it as a more serious predecessor to "Knocked Up." )
Despite being two strangers with very different beliefs about destiny, they decide to continue a relationship. Isabelle sees signs everywhere, while Alex is more cynical.
Perry's performance crystallizes his character's evolution from pragmatic bachelor to full believer in the mysterious thread of love. If you're a fan of Destiny ( another romantic comedy about fate), you'll love Alex and Isabelle's adorable encounter and the way they submit to their seemingly casual relationship - only in this case , which often happens faster because there's a baby on the way.
"That's probably my best movie"
In addition to being a charming film in its own right, "Jackass" is particularly important in the larger context of Perry's career. In fact, this was his first major film role!
In his 2022 memoir "Friends, Lovers, and Big Scary Things," Perry recalled the experience of making the comedy, which he filmed after the second season of "Friends."
He described the film as "probably his best film" and credited director Andy Tennant with helping him deliver his best performance so early in his career.
For example, he often suggested jokes to filmmakers, who encouraged him to take a more nuanced approach. "You don't have to do this," Perry remembers him saying. "You're interesting enough to watch without having to do any of this."
For Perry, the advice was transformative. "Could this be said in a different way , Marty, you are enough, the words I have longed to hear my whole life?"
Perry also has another personal connection to the film: his real-life father, John Bennett Perry, played his father in the film. "I remember they had a reunion on set and spent that time together," producer Doug Dressing recently told the New York Post, adding that it made Perry "proud" to work with him 's father collaborated on screen.
