Sandler takes us back to '85!

Rating: Null/10 (25 September 2002)

Each of us has a decade which is most important to us. Usually, your favourite decade is the one in which you were a teenager: You had little in the way of responsibility; life was about hanging out with friends, partying and listening to pop music. For me, it could only be the 80's. Here at last is a movie that celebrates that time like no other.
Robbie Hart (Sandler) is the Wedding Singer. He's a happy-go-lucky guy doing the wedding scene to make extra cash while his songwriting career waits to take flight. It isn't until he's jilted at his own wedding by groovy but selfish rock chick Linda (Angela Featherstone) that he realises his life amounts to very little. He's living the dream, and he's just about to wake up and smell the Pop Tarts. Robbie gets to fall to earth with only a slight bump however, because he's unknowingly rescued by adorable waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore). Problem is, she's due to marry spoiled rich-kid Glenn Gulia (Matthew Glave). Will Robbie be able to stop the inevitable and finally have some true happiness in his life?
The story would be adequate as a vehicle for Adam Sandler, written as it is by his buddy Tim Herlihy. Yet, unlike other Sandler vehicles, it shines through with additional brightness: this film gets to poke fun and reminisce about a really cool ten years of our lives. Marvellous in-jokes abound: Miami Vice, the Back to the Future trilogy, and even Billy Idol get a look in! Attention to detail is high. Costume and hairstyles are spot on. The movie's soundtrack is second to none. In fact, there are so many memorable songs in it, the film's producers released two instalments of the soundtrack CD for sale. Songs like "Do you really want to hurt me", "Pass the Dutchie", and "Too Shy" will easily spark off fond memories in all who know Ronald Reagan as a president, not as an actor.
Sandler is, well, Adam Sandler in this film. I wonder whether he will ever be anyone else! However, in the supporting cast we notice warm and rich performances from Barrymore and Allen Covert (a Sandler movie stalwart), playing Robbie's best friend Sammy. Steve Buscemi occupies a scene-stealing cameo role with such vigour that it is unfortunate he does not appear throughout the film. The finest performance however, is by Matthew Glave. Glenn Gulia is truly a nasty piece of work. He's a womanising, self-centred, rich prat who deliberately preys upon Julia since he knows he can trust her, because she was with him before he made his money. He openly chases other women, and even denies Julia her one chance to have a window seat on an aeroplane, countering with "When we fly over Las Vegas, I'll let you lean over me!" You'll grow to hate the character, and this is the mark of fine writing translated into fine acting.
Aside from a hollywood ending, rich in schmaltz, we see an enjoyable hour and a half, reminding us just how puffy people's hairdos were back then, and how cool the music really was. And there'll be plenty of laughter too! If you're a child of the 80's, do yourself a favour, rent this in Betamax format if you have to, just watch it!