Fools Rush In (1997)

33% of critics liked it
(27 reviews)
60% of users liked it
(61,610 ratings)

Two relative strangers try to turn a one night stand into a marriage in this romantic comedy. Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) is a designer from New York City who is sent to Las Vegas to supervise the construction of a nightclub that his firm has been hired to build. Alex is a straight-laced WASP-ish… More Two relative strangers try to turn a one night stand into a marriage in this romantic comedy. Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) is a designer from New York City who is sent to Las Vegas to supervise the construction of a nightclub that his firm has been hired to build. Alex is a straight-laced WASP-ish type who, while enjoying a night on the town, meets Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hayek), a free-spirited Mexican-American photographer. Alex and Isabel are overtaken by lust at first sight and end up spending the night together; however, their immediate attraction doesn't last in the cold light of day, and they don't see each other for another three months. When they do meet again, it's because Isabel has some interesting news for Alex: she's pregnant with his child. Alex and Isabel decide that they should do the right thing and quickly get married (with an Elvis impersonator serving as witness), but after Isabel meets Alex's mom (Jill Clayburgh), and Alex is confronted by Isabel's father (Tomas Milian), both start to wonder if "doing the right thing" was just that, especially as Alex tries to balance his career in New York with Isabel's desire to continue working in Nevada. Fools Rush In gave Matthew Perry his first big-screen starring role following his success on the TV series Friends. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Andy Tennant
Written By: Katherine Reback
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Feb 14, 1997 Wide
On DVD: Feb 10, 1998
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Mike Clark, USA Today
Take away the ethnic/pregnancy angles, and we've seen this premise countless times -- all the way back to the spate of post-World War II romances about returning veterans and the mates they married in a blink.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
A fun no-brainer that successfully casts a sweet romantic spell.
Fred Topel, About.com
No laughs in this one at all. Who decided to write a movie about a club designer? Boring concept, no chemistry.
Alex Sandell, Juicy Cerebellum
Fools rush in to watch this stupid romantic comedy.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Shows how love leads away from reason into the mysteries of the heart.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Stick to the sitcoms, Matt.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

A fairly typical formulaic rom-com. While it was fairly inoffensive and I quite like Perry and Hayek, it seems really dated for a film only 13 years old now and it is terribly dull.
Cassie H

"You will never know love unless you surrender to it". My main reason for renting this movie was because I started to watch Friends and Matthew Perry was hilarious in it so I decided to get this, and you know what I was ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY not dissapointed. You know it… More
"You will never know love unless you surrender to it". My main reason for renting this movie was because I started to watch Friends and Matthew Perry was hilarious in it so I decided to get this, and you know what I was ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY not dissapointed. You know it was still the same type of movie Matthew Perry would do but at the same time this movie was funny but a touching love story. Matthew Perry will forever be my fave, and he always will be! :) Salma Hayek is a good actress herself too.
Film C

hated it thought it was boring and pointless
Nani V

Very cute movie.
Aaron N

Isabel Fuentes: No. No quiero oir nada. No quiero que me digas una palabra. Estoy harta de todas tus mentiras. Eso son todo lo que me has dicho. Cobarde. Alex Whitman: What does that mean? Isabel Fuentes: It means that you are a liar and a coward. That's what it means. Alex… More
Isabel Fuentes: No. No quiero oir nada. No quiero que me digas una palabra. Estoy harta de todas tus mentiras. Eso son todo lo que me has dicho. Cobarde. Alex Whitman: What does that mean? Isabel Fuentes: It means that you are a liar and a coward. That's what it means. Alex Whitman: It sounded so much prettier in Spanish. It's funny thinking about this movie after seeing Knocked Up. Its basically the same premise: after a one night stand, the woman ends up pregnant and the two form a relationship. Granted this movie is a lot more tame, with a chick flick sentiment behind it. I remember seeing this a long time ago and was pleased enough, and now its one of those movies where if its on TV I'll leave it on in the background while I do something else. Its nothing special, but it has Salma Hayek looking good and Matthew Perry, who I think can be pretty funny at times. Enjoyable.
Sanjaya &

I remembered watched this movie on TV... The movie was funny and great... Salma Hayek and Matthew Perry stars as a great couple... But as I remembered it too, I didn't make this film to the end... Wonder why...
danny d

i love that salma hayek
Michael G

While it's nice and pleasant, I don't see any way in hell how someone would be able to remember this movie.
Leigh R

It was okay.
Fascade F

Tongue in Cheek comedy about the trials and tribulations of commitment in a relationship.
Jackson W

Definitely a more reasonable, smartly written, and all around funny romantic comedy.
Joseph E

Alex Whitman: Isabel, don't jump. Isabel Fuentes: I'm not going to kill myself, stupid. But if you come any closer, I'll throw your ass over. It's all about chemistry when uptight New Yorker Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) and blithe-spirited Isabel Fuentes… More
Alex Whitman: Isabel, don't jump. Isabel Fuentes: I'm not going to kill myself, stupid. But if you come any closer, I'll throw your ass over. It's all about chemistry when uptight New Yorker Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) and blithe-spirited Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hayek) spend one passionate night together in Las Vegas just hours after meeting... read more . The next morning, they go their separate ways and don't see each other until three months later -- when Isabel realizes she's pregnant. Alex and Isabel decide to get married, but the honeymoon ends when their families meet and cultures clash. Isabel Fuentes: No. No quiero oir nada. No quiero que me digas una palabra. Estoy harta de todas tus mentiras. Eso son todo lo que me has dicho. Cobarde. Alex Whitman: What does that mean? Isabel Fuentes: It means that you are a liar and a coward. That's what it means. Alex Whitman: It sounded so much prettier in Spanish. It isn't kidding when they say "Cultures Clash, and Sparks Fly" This film isn't the best film you'll ever see, but when it comes to Romantic-Comedies, ti might be very close to the best. This film is full of funny, and romantic moments. It will have you laughing, and jumping for joy, well kind of jumping. Fools Rush In, wins our hearts, and our funnybone. It isn't the most hysterical, but some scenes will have you laughing out loud. Priest on Street: There are signs everywhere.
Deb S

This movie hit so many of the issues that people face in intercultural relationships. The genuineness of Alex's character is cleverly off set by his jaded pal, just as is Isabel's in her parallel circumstance. Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek portray two very unlikely people to… More
This movie hit so many of the issues that people face in intercultural relationships. The genuineness of Alex's character is cleverly off set by his jaded pal, just as is Isabel's in her parallel circumstance. Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek portray two very unlikely people to ever fall in love but they do .. after she gets pregnant from a one-night stand! Hayek and Perry are so convincing as Isabel and Alex. The movie had an excellent message; for a relationship to work, each partner must give more than they take. The music is a fabulous aspect of the film. The numerous musical selections that appear throughout the movie are perfectly selected to express the lovers' emotions and situations of the moment. It is truly, sheer delight!
Marion R

Meh, if you like this kind of stuff it's okay, generic type of plot.
Leo L

A favorite.