A funny Adam Sadler film!  is this a sign of the apocalypse?

Rating: Null/10 (15 February 2002)

In 1985 failed rock star Robbie Hart is the best wedding singer in town. However when his fiancé leaves him on the day of their wedding his world is turned upside down. However a burgeoning friendship with waitress Julia helps him back on his feet. However when he begins to fall for her he finds himself at a loss as she is engaged to be married herself.
A funny Sadler film! Clearly an one off but why not enjoy it while it last? Clearly Big Daddy and Little Nicky are the final nails in his career coffin but here he created a generally good film. The story is actually quite good - it is a love story but it isn't cursed with heavy slush or sentiment. Instead the film has a real good laugh at itself by laughing at the time period. However the jokes at the period are not too derisory and it's not cruel.
The story is littered with direct jokes, side jokes, period jokes and sheer outrageous laughs (namely Hart's song inspired by the Cure!). There is much to like here and the film is supported by a range of hilarious characters, the only complaint being that it's all a little neat (and feels too short).
Sadler is good and, believe it or not, he gives a subtle, believable, likable performance - surely not! Barrymore is good in a `good girl' role that she rarely gets. Alexis Arquette is funny as George even if he is an one-joke character. However the funniest characters are those that do cameos and have funny characters rather than funny jokes - Jon Lovitz is hilarious as a rival singer (he's losing his mind!), Frank Sivero from Goodfellas is strangely funny as Andy (oh great now I've got water all over my pants) but the best is a wicked cameo from Steve Buscemi as a drunken best man (`the better man!'). The only cameo that doesn't work is Billy Idol - he just looks scary!
Overall, even if you hate Adam Sadler (I do) it's hard not to be taken in by this innocent little charmer with it's gentle humour and great sense of period.