The 1990’s was an important decade for SNL alumni. One of them is Adam Sandler. He began his career by 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, 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 Sandler along with his good friend Chris Farley.
After being fired, this didn’t stop him from making movies such as Airheads, Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy and many others. One film in particular that made Sandler a household name was the film most critics are calling it his best, is “The Wedding Singer.”
Now that Adam Sandler has made a Four Picture Deal on Netflix, a dramedy called “The Meyerowitz Stories” has been giving a bunch of positive feedback from critics proving that 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, and Inherent Vice.
This Review contains no big SPOILERS. Feel free to read it.
Positive: The Performances from Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore. Sandler also did his own singing because he’s also a talanted musician in real life as evidenced when he would often sing during his run on SNL.
Fun Fact: The Wedding Singer is the first collaboration between Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore, they also worked on 50 First Dates and Blended.
Supporting Cast from Sander’s “rep company” or posse including Steve Buscemi, Allen Convert, Peter Dante, Kevin Nealon, and Jon Lovitz, made unforgettable appearances for their roles.
Familiar music from the 80’s. Like Peter Quill/Star-Lord Adam Sandler is known for including his own “Awesome Mix” of songs.
If you were around during the 80’s, several pop cultures references at time are referenced, and technology such as a CD Player is mentioned.
The Humor from Sandler’s early career at the time was unique since Billy Madison. Over the years he keeps using the same familiar tropes.
The Chemistry between Robbie & Julia felt normal, not forced like most Hollywood films that want to rush things first.
Like most of his films, he regularly features a musician, singer or rock star in a cameo appearance.
The Best Line in my opinion is “Whoop-a-dee-do!”
The Dialogue is vey memorable.
Not to give anything away, one character does a cover version of the rap song “Rapper Delight.” As a bonus, it is also featured in the film’s soundtrack.
Negative: Does anybody get annoyed by Drew Barrymore’s lisp. She sounds like Bill Murray in Caddyshack.
An optional con for me is a freeze-frame at the end. Sometimes when a movie ends like that, I end up making fun of it by 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 Romantic Comedy field. It’s one of these feel good movies with likable characters except two of them. If you’re interested in this movie, go ahead and give a watch.
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 