12 Movies Friends Stars Want You To Forget
The One With Matt LeBlanc and the Monkey.
Over the course of ten years and ten seasons, a group of six actors were catapulted from obscurity into superstardom. Even today, Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow remain household names and icons of television. So much so, that the former Friends will return this year for a one-off reunion special, proving that audiences just can't get enough of the Central Perk Six.
Outside of Friends, however, the cast's fortunes have varied. Some have gone on to find success on the big screen, while others remain comfortable in prestige TV shows and one-off projects. One of them hosted Top Gear in the UK for a bit.
You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs though (or make a trifle without beef), and inevitably in the transition from TV to cinema, there'll be a few flops and failures. And, in some cases, a bit of ancient history that happened before the show that we'd all like to forget. What follows is a deep dive into the lowlights of our favourite Friends (plus surprise guest stars!) both before and after the show. Yes, it's a compilation episode. Could it be any more embarrassing?
12. Numb
The One Where Chandler Has a Breakdown.
Matthew Perry tackles mental health issues in this romantic drama-dy from 2007. In it, Perry plays screenwriter Hudson Milbank, a man convinced that he's losing his mind and going insane. Numb, geddit. Suffering from a complete absence of emotions, Hudson is desperate to be his most perfect self when he meets his dream girl. Can he find himself again, before she gives up on him?
This was a smart attempt from Matthew Perry to avoid typecasting as the most laid-back, easy-going of the Friends, but unfortunately didn't quite land, thanks to its awkward blend of comedy and brooding drama.
One suspects that audiences just couldn't take the one-time Chandler Bing in a more serious role, and he quickly reverted back to silly studio comedy roles... which didn't hit big either, unfortunately. Despite the best of intentions from its director and cast, Numb largely left critics and audiences feeling, well, numb.