I remember watching a grainy DVD of Almost Heroes back in the day and thinking it was just another goofy 90s comedy. You know the type. Lots of yelling, physical gags, and period costumes that looked like they were stolen from a high school play. But looking back now, there’s something heavy about it. It’s the only time we got Chris Farley and Matthew Perry on screen together.
One was the king of physical comedy, a human hurricane in a suit two sizes too small. The other was the prince of sarcasm, the guy who defined the "Friends" era with a single inflection. On paper, it was a dream team. In reality, it was a snapshot of two men struggling with the exact same demons while the cameras were rolling.
Why Almost Heroes Was More Than a Flop
Released in 1998, Almost Heroes was basically a parody of the Lewis and Clark expedition. Chris Farley played Bartholomew Hunt, a drunk tracker, and Matthew Perry was Leslie Edwards, a posh aristocrat. Critics absolutely hated it. It has a 5% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is, honestly, impressively bad.
But the box office numbers don’t tell the whole story. The production was a mess because both stars were in the thick of their addictions.
Farley was in and out of rehab during filming. Perry, as he later admitted in his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, was consuming terrifying amounts of vodka and pills. He mentioned that he was "high the entire time" while promoting the film.
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There’s a specific kind of sadness in watching them try to make us laugh when they were both so close to the edge. The studio actually cut out a lot of the ensemble scenes to focus more on Farley’s slapstick, which director Christopher Guest (of Spinal Tap fame) reportedly wasn't thrilled about. They wanted the "Tommy Boy" version of Farley, even though the man himself was physically failing.
The Moment Matthew Perry Heard the News
One of the most gut-wrenching details from Perry’s book is how he reacted to Farley’s death. Chris Farley died on December 18, 1997, from a drug overdose, just months before their movie was set to hit theaters.
When Perry found out, he was on the set of Friends. He didn't just get quiet or go home. He actually punched a hole through Jennifer Aniston’s dressing room wall.
It wasn't just grief. It was fear. He wrote, "His disease had progressed faster than mine had." He saw Farley as a mirror. Both were the "funny guys" who used humor to mask a deep-seated need for approval and a paralyzing struggle with substance abuse. Seeing that mirror shatter was more than he could take.
The Shared Burden of Being the "Funny Guy"
People often talk about the "sad clown" trope, but with Chris Farley and Matthew Perry, it wasn't a trope. It was their daily life.
Farley felt he had to be the loudest person in the room to be loved. He thought if he wasn't crashing through a coffee table, people wouldn't care. Perry had a similar thing with his "Chandler" persona. He famously said that if he didn't get a laugh from the live studio audience, he felt like he was dying.
- Chris Farley: Relied on physical exertion and self-deprecation.
- Matthew Perry: Relied on wit, timing, and a "cool" exterior that hid the bloat of alcoholism.
They both ended up being defined by their struggles as much as their talent. Farley’s brother, Tom Farley Jr., has spoken extensively about how Chris couldn't turn "it" off. Perry echoed this, describing the sheer exhaustion of maintaining a public image while your body is literally shutting down.
A Legacy of Survival and Loss
What’s wild is how their legacies have shifted over time. Farley is frozen in 1997—the eternal 33-year-old fireball. Perry lived much longer, becoming an advocate for recovery before his own tragic passing in 2023.
When you look at Chris Farley and Matthew Perry together, you aren't just looking at two 90s icons. You’re looking at the cost of being the person everyone looks to for a good time.
Moving Beyond the Screen
If you're a fan of these two, don't just stop at the movies. There are real lessons in their stories about the pressure of performance and the reality of mental health.
What you can do next:
- Read the source material: If you haven't read Perry’s memoir, do it. It’s raw and honest about the industry.
- Watch the documentaries: I Am Chris Farley gives a much better look at the man behind the "fat guy in a little coat" routine.
- Support the cause: Matthew Perry’s big goal was to be remembered for helping people get sober. Supporting organizations like the Matthew Perry Foundation is a way to keep that specific part of his legacy alive.
Ultimately, their work in Almost Heroes might not be high art, but it’s a human document of two legends doing their best while fighting a war within themselves.