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Rating:
There is something surprisingly charming about The Wedding Singer, a lighthearted romantic comedy from Saturday Night Live alumni Adam Sandler. The foolish comedian found fame and fortune by creating such low-brow comedies as Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison, but in this effort he lays aside his spastic schtick to play a more realistic character. By allowing his real personality to permeate the narrative, Sandler gives an astonishingly warm and thoughtful portrayal of a broken-hearted musician, while Drew Barrymore gives an equally engaging performance thanks to her glowing smile and enchanting giggle. The wedding has been a prevalent backdrop for countless Hollywood movies, but The Wedding Singer breaks the mold by taking place in the '80s. Director Frank Coraci and writer Tim Herlihy pile on the nostalgia, which includes everything from Dallas jokes to Michael Jackson gloves. At times these moments seem heavy-handed, but they still add a lot of flavor to the plot. The biggest laughs occur every time Steve Buscemi steps onto the screen, brilliantly playing a drunken best man who makes a shambles of the wedding toast. Once again, Buscemi proves that he has the timing and intelligence to go right to the edge. The most astonishing aspect of The Wedding Singer is that, although simplistic and routine, the film still makes for a fresh and exciting romance story. Even those who aren't fans of Sandler's shenanigans will find merit in this unassuming comedy, which follows a formula but manages to break a few rules.

Adam Goldberg, All Movie Guide

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