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Fools Rush In (1997 film)
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Wikipedia article
'Fools Rush In' is a 1997 American romantic comedy film starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek, directed by Andy Tennant.
Plot
Alex Whitman (Matthew Perry), a New York City architect, is sent to Las Vegas to supervise the construction of a nightclub that his firm has been hired to build. Alex, a strait-laced WASP-ish type, meets Isabel Fuentes (Salma Hayek), a free-spirited Mexican-American photographer. Alex and Isabel are overtaken by lust at first sight and spend the night together; however, their immediate attraction does not last, and in the cold morning light, Isabel quietly slips away while Alex is still asleep.
Three months later, they meet again when Isabel has some interesting news for Alex: she is pregnant with his child. Isabel is keeping and raising the child alone, knowing it will disappoint her family. She invites Alex to a family dinner so they can meet her baby's father at least once. Alex agrees, and despite some cultural differences, finds himself more attracted to Isabel. Though Isabel is prepared to say goodbye, Alex suggests they pursue a real relationship. He proposes and they quickly marry at a Las Vegas wedding chapel (with an Elvis impersonator serving as witness), but gradually, both wonder if they belong together, especially as Alex struggles to balance his New York career with Isabel's desire to stay in Nevada.
Isabel suffers a medical complication. While in the hospital, she tells Alex she lost the baby and says they were not meant to be together. Disappointed, Alex returns to New York while Isabel, who is still pregnant, goes to Mexico to stay with her great-grandmother. After being served with divorce papers, Alex realizes he loves Isabel and wants her more than his career. He travels to rural Mexico to find Isabel, unaware she is still pregnant. Her great-grandmother, who only speaks Spanish, reveals that Isabel loves Alex and is driving back to Las Vegas to have her baby (which he only understand as she has returned to Las Vegas). He intercepts her at Hoover Dam and says he loves her, then realizes she is still pregnant. She suddenly goes into labor and gives birth to a daughter that coincides with their divorce becoming final. Soon after they remarry with both families present, atop a cliff overlooking the Grand Canyon.
Cast
* Matthew Perry as Alex Whitman
* Salma Hayek as Isabel Fuentes-Whitman
* Jon Tenney as Jeff
* Carlos Gmez as Chuy
* Tomas Milian as Tomas Fuentes
* Siobhan Fallon as Lainie
* John Bennett Perry as Richard Whitman
* Stanley DeSantis as Judd Marshall
* Suzanne Snyder as Cathy Stewart
* Anne Betancourt as Amalia Fuentes
* Jill Clayburgh as Nan Whitman
* Garret Davis as Stan
* Annie Combs as Dr. Lisa Barnes, Ob-Gyn
* Annetta Ray as minister performing marriage
* Debby Shively as Donna, construction manager
* Robert Arevalo as Miguel Fuentes
Soundtrack
The following list of titles represents the music used in sequence with the movie.
# Santa Claus is Comin' to Town Burl Ives (office Christmas party scene)
# Jailhouse Rock Elvis Presley (Alex gets excited about Las Vegas)
# Las Abajeas Mariachi Reyes de Aserradero
# Two to Tango Vanessa Daou (one-night stand/morning after)
# Para Donde Vas The Iguanas (playing while Alex follows Isabel in his car, just after she announces she's pregnant)
# El Pichon
# La Martiniana
# Ain't That a Kick in the Head Dean Martin (Elvis impersonator wedding/honeymoon scene)
# Linda Guerita Brave Combo
# Si Tu Te Vas Enrique Iglesias
# Mi Tierra Gloria Estefan
# La Virgen de la Macarena Prez Prado
# Nothing is Permanent Brave Combo
# La Bamba Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitln
# Los Machetes Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitln
# Fever Peggy Lee (Alex's parents leaving Las Vegas scene)
# Talk to Me Wild Orchid ("Boulevard Club" opening night scene)
# Naked Eye Luscious Jackson ("Boulevard Club" opening night scene/Isabel walks out)
# I Wonder Chris Isaak (Isabel on her way to her grandmother's house)
# Danke Schoen Wayne Newton (Alex's "epiphany"/leaving New York)
# It's Now or Never Elvis Presley (Alex on the trail to find Isabel)
# Can't Help Falling in Love Elvis Presley (The "real wedding"/closing credits)
Reception
'Fools Rush In' received mixed reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 34% based on reviews from 29 critics, with an average score of 5 out of 10.[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fools_rush_in/ 'Fools Rush In'], Rotten Tomatoes, accessed August 11, 2021. A more positive review came from Roger Ebert of 'The Chicago-Sun Times', who gave the film 3 stars out of a possible 4. He described 'Fools Rush In' as "a sweet, entertaining retread of an ancient formula", elevated by good performances (particularly Hayek) and an insightful "level of observation and human comedy".
Box office
It grossed $29 million in the United States and Canada and $13 million internationally, for a worldwide total of $42 million.Accolades
References
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