5 Best Matthew Perry Roles That Aren't Chandler Bing from Friends
Matthew Perry might be primarily known for his performance in Friends, but there have been many more movies where his comedy genius shined just as bright.
5. A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon (1988)
Charming young Jimmy just graduated from school and, against his father’s will, hates the idea of going to college. He sleeps around with anyone, cherishes his true platonic love, and wants to escape his hometown with her before he gets enrolled — because that would be a life-shattering tragedy in his eyes. All he needs is $80.
A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon came around before Matthew Perry ’s Friends fame, so it’s River Phoenix who takes the stage for the most part. It’s still curious to watch young Perry make his first big-screen steps, though, so why not give it a shot?
4. Fools Rush In (1997)
What is love? It’s the once-in-a-lifetime feeling that might never come again unless you immediately marry your one-night stand. At least, that’s what Alex made of it when said one-night stand informed him she was pregnant. Against anyone’s better judgment, the two decide to build a family together, but they’re way too different.
Thanks to his Friends popularity, Matthew Perry was sought-after in the 1990s and starred alongside various movie stars. In Fools Rush In, he shared the screen with Salma Hayek, playing her unlikely partner for an even unlikelier happy ending.
3. The Whole Nine Yards (2000)
The calm and predictable family life of a middle-aged dentist begins crumbling when a notorious gangster moves in next door. The new neighbor scared him, but things get much uglier when his wife decides to sell the gangster out to his infuriated mob boss who’s been looking for the traitor. Sure enough, the poor dentist is in trouble.
Friends is still airing, but the Paul Stevens storyline is long in the past. But Matthew Perry and Bruce Willis reunite once again in The Whole Nine Yards to deliver a fun dark comedy with many plot twists and remind everyone they’re still going strong.
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2. 17 Again (2009)
A college star athlete sacrificed his career to build a family with his girlfriend — and many years later, he’s grown to hate himself for that. His life is insufferable and he dreams about traveling back in time and making a different decision. The universe gives him this chance, turning the middle-aged man into a teenager once again.
One of Matthew Perry’s best comedy outings (even though his character is played by Zac Efron for the majority of the movie), 17 Again is a funny and endearing story about family, values, midlife crisis, and coming of age — all in one great movie.
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1. Misery Loves Comedy (2014)
What if you ask dozens of the funniest people on Earth how they became so successful at making people laugh for a living? They would all tell you the same thing: to become a good comedian, you must first be miserable. Only by embracing misery as your best friend can you learn to make fun of your and others’ problems.
In this unique anthology interview movie, Matthew Perry served as one of the famous comedy actors and stand-up comedians who shared what drove them to become icons of humor…and why you can’t become one if your life is too good.