Matthew Perry's co-star says working with actor on rom-com was 'nightmare'

Daily Record

3 days ago

It's fair to say the film was not well received by critics or fans alike
In the wake of Matthew Perry's untimely passing, fans are revisiting his less acclaimed movie endeavours during his tenure on the beloved TV series, with mixed feelings surfacing.
Serving Sara, a rom-com from 2002 featuring Matthew Perry alongside Elizabeth Hurley, didn't hit the mark upon its debut and reportedly garnered a mere $5,750,000 on its opening weekend.
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Matthew portrays process server Joe Tyler tasked with delivering divorce papers to Sara Moore, depicted by Elizabeth, against the backdrop of her wealthy husband's wishes.
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In an attempt to dodge the papers, Sara sends Tyler on a ludicrous runaround as part of finalising her divorce. Critical voices from Rotten Tomatoes have left the film languishing with a paltry 4% rating, while audience feedback remains varied.
An individual critique stated: "No chemistry with Perry and Hurley-and no laughs either. He serves her divorce papers, and they run around the country while Cedric the Entertainer talks on the phone."
Another viewer weighed in with a tepid take, offering: "I really can't say it is a very good movie. But at the same time it has dull scenes, it features some very funny ones as well."
They added: "Honestly, I think there is some bad acting, and I didn't like Elizabeth Hurley in the film. I will, however, praise, as always, Matthew Perry because he's an excellent actor and his talent is seen in the film.
"So, it is not a very good film but not as bad as they say it is."
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Matthew Perry himself later revealed that he had been struggling with addiction during the filming of Serving Sara, which greatly impacted his performance, reports the Mirror US.
In his memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, he shared his experiences on set, describing how his addiction led to difficulties with speaking and necessitating retakes of scenes.
At one point, production was even halted for a few months while Matthew attended a rehab facility. When asked about her time working on Serving Sara, Elizabeth shared her thoughts in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment.
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She remembered: "I have very fond memories of him. To be honest, it was a nightmare working with him at that time, and, as it's now known, our movie was shut down because of his addiction."
The production was suspended due to unforeseen circumstances, leaving the cast and crew idle for a period. However, upon Matthew's return, he delivered a commendable performance.
Matthew's filmography includes roles in films such as 17 Again with Zac Efron, Fools Rush In, and The Whole Nine Yards. Despite a successful career, Serving Sara was not one of his shining moments.
However, he will always be cherished by fans for his humorous portrayal of Chandler Bing in Friends.