Review
Matthew F. Tritico
Staff Writer
I walked into The Wedding Singer with preconceived reservations about funnyman Adam Sandler. After all, what else would this former Saturday Night Live star do with a successful transition to the big screen? Play a serious role worthy of an Oscar? Probably not, but he does try his best this time to portray a sensitive, serious funnyman. For that alone, I allowed myself to sit back, relish some nostalgic '80s music and let Sandler belt out the tunes.
Set in 1985, The Wedding Singer is the film Sandler should have made first, instead of the elementary Billy Madison, the Caddyshack-influenced Happy Gilmore and the entertaining but forgettable Bulletproof. Here, all the missing pieces of the comedy-film puzzle come together, as Sandler gets to show off not only his comedic talent, but his amusing singing bits as well.
Sandler plays Robbie Hart, a struggling musician who dreams of becoming a songwriter but is forced to perform as a wedding singer to make ends meet. During a reception he meets a waitress named Julia, played by Drew Barrymore. Barrymore is the epitome of sweetness in this film, bringing Julia to life with an appealing and innocent charm.
After some cute small talk, Robbie and Julia become friends and realize they have something in common - they are both soon to be married, and ironically, they are scheduled to work at each other's weddings. Sandler and Barrymore have a workable chemistry together, and it looks like they had loads of fun with their roles.
When Robbie's big wedding day comes, he realizes that Linda, his bride-to-be (played by Angela Featherstone), isn't going to be there at all. She never bothers to show up, leaving him shocked and disgruntled at the altar. As he falls into a severe slump, Robbie can't shake his melancholy state until his hip friend Sammy, played by Allen Covert, convinces him to return to his profession.
Julia also has a problem. Her oversexed and wealthy fiancé Glenn (Matthew Glave) seems to misunderstand what the word monogamy means. He also idolizes Miami Vice and drives a DeLorean, the vehicle used to transport Marty McFly in Back to the Future.
As Robbie realizes Glenn's true colors, his feelings for Julia escalate. Without further explanation of the story line, the plot is pretty obvious and paints by numbers, but you won't care as the hopeless romantic in you fights to come out.
You know what you're going to get with Sandler's wry humor. It's not as over the top as in Happy Gilmore, where Sandler's overwrought shtick tried so hard to please. Here, he displays genuine moments of greatness and takes Robbie through the motions with humble bravado and a touch of charisma.
Before you know it, you're Robbie's prisoner, wearing empathy chains and rooting for him to win the heart of his lady fair. The sensitive and fashionably aloof songwriter that longs for love prevails over the jaded, burnt-out wedding singer.
As far as '80s-pop culture goes, you'll be in parachute-pant paradise, and the supporting cast is loads of fun. Alexis Arquette is a scene-stealer as George, as in Boy George, part of Robbie's back up band. His rendition of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" by Culture Club sent an infectious echo of laughter throughout the theater.
When Glenn brings a new CD player to Julia's house and has to explain what it is, we realize how far we've come since 1985. Christine Taylor, who took Marcia to new heights in The Brady Bunch Movie, plays Julia's best friend, Holly. Her Madonna-cloned wardrobe adds a splash of color to her sexually liberated character. And Sammy is great when he's trying to be hip, especially when he wears Michael Jackson's trademark red jacket and glove to a party.
Two cameos are also worthy of mention. Look for Steve Buscemi as the drunken brother in the opening scene. Although sometimes annoying, Buscemi shines this time around with his quirky and rambling manner that made him memorable in Reservoir Dogs and Fargo. Another Saturday Night Live veteran, Jon Lovitz, catches all the laughs in a great scene as an auditioning singer for Julia's wedding.
When it was all over, The Wedding Singer wasn't as hokey as I thought it would be. The film's bright, inorganic colors, the awesome '80s soundtrack and Barrymore's innocence do a pretty good job of transporting you back to 1985, a timewe will never forget.