Entertainer Robbie Hart loves to croon away 1980s’ classics at weddings and other celebratory nuptials. A cavalier good-guy, Hart’s optimism is crushed when his longtime fiancée dumps him at the alter, leaving him cynical about his profession and all things love in general, that is, until the pretty Julia walks into his life. Though she’s engaged, her fiancée is the typical shmuck; but Julia’s too naïve to notice. As Robbie begins falling for Julia, he resolves to expose her fiancée’s reckless lifestyle and win her heart one song at a time.
Director: Frank Coraci.
Written by: Tim Herlihy.
The cast includes: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Alan Covert, and Angela Featherstone.
Tagline: “Before the internet, Before cell phones, Before roller-blades, There was a time… 1985. Don’t pretend you don’t remember.”
The story is set in 1985, and both the scenery and outfits are remarkably identical to the gaudy retro-fashion of the anything too big and too bright, wild era known as the 80’s. Throughout the film, elements in the screenplay good naturedly pokes fun of the 1980’s.
“The Wedding Singer” is a story about a former rock’n’roll musician, Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler), who is now struggling to make ends meet by being a singer at a banquet hall, used for receptions for weddings, etc., and by teaching voice lessons. While singing at a wedding reception gig, he becomes friends with a young waitress, Julia Sullivan (Drew Barrymore). Both are engaged to the wrong people, but don’t know it. As they help each other in various ways, they gradually discover each other, if only their miss-matched partners would not get in the way.
The cast really shines through this inspired screenplay, by the talented, humorous Tim Herlihy, who has also written such films as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore,& The Water Boy.
The talented director of this humorously romantic classic was Frank Coraci, who also directed Sandler in the film, “The Water Boy.”
Adam Sandler gives one of his funniest, endearing performances as Robbie Hart, who becomes a good friend to Julia, even helping her plan her wedding. While helping Barrymore with her plans, Sandler discovers the true nature of her scumbag fiancé, Glen Gulia (Matthew Glave), while falling in love with Barrymore himself.
Adam Sandler’s comical portrayal as a singer is really entertaining, as the positive, energetic entertainer, ready to take charge, such as when a best man, David (Steve Buscemi), is drunk during his unflattering toast to the bride and groom. When his own beloved, Linda (Angela Featherstone), dumps him because he isn’t making it in the music business to her satisfaction, his bitterness and anger carries over to his singing gigs, producing some rather funny but squirmy moments, as his dour mood takes over his act.
Drew Barrymore sparkles as a perky, sweet, naive waitress, Julia Sullivan, who is a true friend and helps Robbie when he is dumped by his fiancé, a devastating moment in his life. The irony is that Barrymore is about to walk into a disaster by marrying a two-timing, self-obsessed jerk.
Matthew Glave, as Glen Gulia, is very convincing as the philandering, self-absorbed fiancé, who isn’t committed to Julia, as he really likes one-night-stands.
Billy Idol is in fine form in his cameo role, near the end of the film.
Some of the best scenes by far are the various fiancé scenes where both Robbie and Julia dealing with self-centered jerks in the night club scene. Oh, and we can’t forget the memorable rap solo of an eighty-something grandma who still knows how to get down and boogie!
How these two people finally realize and proclaim their love for each other, despite the obstacles and misunderstandings that stand in their way, makes a terrific, romantic, endearing conclusion.
