The 1990’s was an important decade for SNL alumni. One of them is one of my favorite comedians/actors, Adam Sandler. He began his career making his acting debut on “The Cosby Show” as one of Theo Huxtible’s buddies. He got hired by MTV on a game show called, “Remote Control” aired from 1987 to 1990. In 1989, he first began his first leading role in a film called “Going Overboard.” That movie was just the beginning of his career slump.
In 1990 with the help of Dennis Miller, who first discovered Sandler when he was 17 by doing some stand-up comedy, Mr. Miller’s connections with SNL creator, Lorne Michaels, gave him the opportunity as a writer for the sketch comedy, and he would later move on as a cast member from 1990 to 1995. Lorne Michaels for unknown reasons fired Adam along with his good friend, Chris Farley. After getting fired, this didn’t stop him from making hit comedies such as “Airheads,” “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Waterboy” & “Big Daddy.” One movie in particular made Adam a household name was the film most critics are calling it his best, (if not the best) “The Wedding Singer.”
Released in 1998, (same year Small Soldiers came out) the movie became a commercial success at the box office. Now that Adam Sandler has made a Four Picture Deal on Netflix, a dramedy called “The Meyerowitz Stories” earned positive feedback from critics proving that Mr. Sandler isn’t just a class clown, but a respected actor similar to his first dramatic film, “Punch Drunk Love” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (also a big fan of Sandler’s work) who also directed “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia,” “There Will Be Blood” & “Inherent Vice.”
Today’s review contains no big SPOILERS. Feel free to read it.
Positive & Negative Aspects
Positive: Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore both did an excellent job for their respective performances. Adam also did his own singing. He’s also a talented musician in real life as evidenced in his tenure on SNL. Y’all remember him and Chris Farley’s “Lunch Lady Land.”
Fun Fact: The Wedding Singer is the first collaboration between Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore, they also worked on “50 First Dates” & “Blended.”
Other Cast Members such as Steve Buscemi, Allen Covert, Alexis Arquette, Peter Dante, Kevin Nealon, and Jon Lovitz all did a funny as heck job for their respective performances.
Fun Fact 1: Jon also sang “Ladies Night” in “Little Nicky.”
Fun Fact 2: Adam also worked with the late Alexis’ relatives. David in Airheads & Patricia in Little Nicky.
Familiar music from the ’80s. Like Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Adam’s known for including his own “Awesome Mix” of songs. I’m giving this movie credit for introducing me to a few songs like “Holiday,” “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” & “Love Stinks.”
If you were growing up around during the ’80s like my parents, several pop culture references and technology such as a CD Player is mentioned.
Humor from Sandler’s early career at the time, was unique since Billy Madison. Over the years, he keeps using the same familiar tropes over and over again.
Chemistry between Robbie & Julia felt normal. Not forced like most Hollywood films that want to rush things first. I hate it an early romance.
Like most of his films, he regularly features a musician, singer or rock star in a cameo appearance.
The best line from Robbie is, “Whoop-a-dee-do!”
Billy Idol makes an appearance as himself.
Dialogue is very memorable. Most notably this bit. “Once again, things could’ve brought to my attention YESTERDAY!”
Not to give anything away, one character does a cover version of the rap song “Rapper’s Delight.” As a bonus, it’s also featured in the film’s soundtrack.
Negative: A Freeze-Frame at the end. Every time I see a movie ending with a Freeze-Frame, I tend to make fun of it. Saying something like, Stay tune for the conclusion of something something.”
The Final Verdict: A-
I’m not much of a rom-com fan, but this is one of the rarest movies I liked in the rom-com field. It’s one of those feel-good movies with likable characters. If you’re interested in this movie, go ahead and give a watch. Invite your boyfriend or girlfriend on a movie date at your place.
Mr. Sandler, if you ‘rereading this, try changing your tropes by trying something completely different that has never been done before. Come up with new tricks like a magician. That’ll give the fans and critics more satisfaction.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 