Turning point for Mr.Sandler

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2008)

Once a believer in true love,carefree singer/musician Robbie Hart(Adam Sandler,revisiting hair of yore)has his world dashed when his fiancée,a shallow and fickle groupie-type(Angela Featherstone)leaves him on their wedding day. Since the sad irony of this comes in the fact that Robbie's main gigs are weddings(hence the title),this crushes him double. He finds comfort(and eventually more)in a pretty,equally idealistic caterer named Julia(Drew Barrymore,all bright and chipper,nearly shed of her once "bad girl" image). Another whammy:said caterer is to be engaged to a super oily Yuppie type(Matthew Glave). What's a hopeless romantic to do? Wink wink.
Set in the 1980s--specifically,a 1985 I barely recognize--this film captures as much pop culture and music from the period as it can. Director Frank Coraci and writer(formerly of SNL,no doubt the inspiration for those endless "Herlihy Boy" sketches)Tim Herlihy have no shame in making this a tribute/mild parody of the Reagan era. Adam Sandler is the star,both in set-up and in delivery in this film,delivering in my opinion a truly well-rounded and likable character,putting to work his persona and edging down his tendency to go sophomoric in previous efforts such as Billy MAdison or Happy Gilmore(moderately funny movies but about as weighty as fart-tinged helium). He and BArrymore make a likable couple,and this movie makes for easy viewing that can go though multiple viewings. A cheap rent or an easy find on basic cable.