I first discovered this delectable movie through the IG app. I was scrolling, as it pains me sometimes! I came across a story posted by New York-based artist and filmmaker Tiffany Joy Butler. Her shortcut review caught my attention. Not only because it was sharp and showed her love about it while including criticisms. It was the polar opposite of my thoughts, which was a great date movie to enjoy together with someone. My curiosity grew about her love and enjoyment of the film. As the pretentious film connoisseur I am, I kept asking her to tell me more about her enthusiasm for this film. Finally, we were able to meet and discuss Fools Rush In.
Fools Rush In, (1997), directed by Andy Tennant is a romantic comedy starring Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek. After a one night stand with Alex, played by Matthew Perry, Isabel, played wonderfully by Salma Hayek, realizes that she is pregnant and they decide to get married. However, along with the marriage comes compromise of one’s own cultural traditions. The movie is silly and serious like real life relationships. The constant mood changes, that is not like scripted entertainment media today, i.e., The Jersey Shore, The Real Housewives, Love Island, Big Brother.
The screenplay has a lot of heart but many of the characters are caricatures including Isabel, played by Salma Hayek who lights up the screen. She made this movie–no pun intended! The chemistry between Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek is great. Isabel is a character written by Katherine Reback who creates a thoughtful yet exotified sense of a Mexican American woman. Katherine Reback would later go on to write speeches for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign and it is clear that like a political campaign, this film has a sense of hope in a multicultural society. America Ferrera is also portrayed as a successful citizen in the Barbie movie. Both encapsulate a pop culture representation of Latina women.
Here are more of Tiffany Joy’s thoughts on Fools Rush In:
This romantic comedy depicts a somewhat hopeful version of interracial marriage. It also attempts to depict Mexican American culture from a white perspective. It is a liberal attempt at togetherness and for a diaspora kid like me I fell for the laughs. As a Black American Puerto Rican, I question whether I am laughing with or at the jokes but since this story is about the love of Isabel and Alex, the seriousness of the tale also drew me back and I remember who anchors the story: Isabel.
She is free-spirited. Isabel’s Mexican culture is an important part of her identity even if the representation is not fully developed. Depicted in the film is Isabel’s love for her family, her Catholic beliefs as well as her belief in destiny and fate. Traditions, customs and music are sprinkled throughout. Isabel’s father, Tomas, just wants her to be happy and wants her to have a good partner. She cares about her faith and wants her father’s blessing.
Destiny and faith show up in the movie. They also show up in moments where superstitions are influencing Alex. He sees something, and it connects to Isabel like a young child who reminds him of Isabel. The dual beliefs of Catholicism and superstition are presented in the art direction of the movie such as how Isabel transformed the house with the religious decor and figurines emblematic of her Catholic faith. She was attempting to create a sense of belonging in her new family and home with her newlywed husband. This rom com ages decently, still bearing relevance to today’s online social environment, and is a contrast to the current cultural climate of anti-immigrant sentiments and transports us to a 1990s pop culture moment of celebrating each other’s cultures like a good dance pop song.
This post was originally published on May 26, 2024 and updated with corrections by the artist.
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