Fools Rush In where angels dare to tread, or so it is said... in this case the fools happen to by business high-flyer Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry) and impetuous Mexican seņorita Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hyek). After a one night stand, Alex wakes up next morning to find Isabel gone.. then just when his life seems to really be becoming successful, she turns up – several months pregnant. Her family will not be impressed if the father is nowhere to be seen even at first, so Alex agrees to go, meet the parents, and then walk out of her life forever... but then he suddenly has a mad impulse to propose and marry in Las Vegas (this is all on the blurb on the back of the DVD in case you think I'm giving too much away here)... but married life isn't quite as simple as all that, and both Isabel and Alex's families are uncertain about the whole romance...

This is a nice romantic comedy though like so many others is nothing special. I don't mind Matthew Perry as an actor and he's not bad in this, but his range is pretty limited and I do find it almost impossible to separate any of his performances from his role as Chandler in the TV series Friends. Hayek is both beautiful and talented but perhaps this wasn't her best performance – again, not bad, but nothing special. The supporting cast range are all pretty good too, though many of them have rather 1-dimensional characters. Still, there are some funny culture clash scenes between the two fathers. The lead couple don't really have much chemistry though, and Prey seems rather bewildered – even in the scenes he's not supposed to be!

All in all this film has much the same weaknesses as another of director Andy Tennant's romantic comedies, Hitch. Too many characters are thrown away instead of being used to their potential, and the film never really shifts out of second / possibly third gear. On the other hand, Perry and Hayek, despite their lack of chemistry, do make an appealing couple and you find yourself wishing them well... most of the time. (At times you could happily strangle either or both of them, but that's just the way it is I guess!) I think the biggest problem this film has is lack of subtlety, everything's thrown at you with full force rather than hinted at along the way.

Overall it's still a nice film, and one that I wouldn't mind seeing this again, though I'd want a fairly long gap between viewings. If you like romantic comedies and like either of the lead stars, you'll enjoy it. Not really worth 4 stars but maybe 3.5 (rounded down!).

Other Information

Rating: 12 (UK), PG-12 (USA) for sensuality and brief language.

Bonus Information

This film was nominated for an ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Award for Outstanding Feature Film, with Hayek nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film.

Before the movie was filmed, there was no Arizona/Nevada "border" painted on the highway that spans the Hoover Dam. When it was added for the movie, local officials decided to keep it intact after the filming of the movie.


Quotes


Alex: How've you been?
Isabel: Pregnant.


...


Isabel: Whatever you do, don't tell them I picked you up outside a restroom.


...


Alex: They're great. I had no idea that families talked at dinner.


...


Isabel: No. No quiero oir nada. No quiero que me digas una palabra. Estoy harto de todos tus mentiras. Esos son todos lo que me has dicho. Cobarde.
Alex: What does that mean?
Isabel: It means that you are a liar and a coward. That's what it means.
Alex: It sounded so much prettier in Spanish.



Isabel: Alex, this is Chuy.
Alex: Chuy, hi. I'm Luke Skywalker.



(You have to take into account that "Chuy" is pronounced "chew-ee"!)


As always, thanks for reading.


See Also:

My Ten Favourite Romantic Comedies

Recommended:
Yes

Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older