THE WEDDING SINGER
Dominic Ow
Directed by: Frank Coraci
Written by: Judd Apatow (uncredited), Carrie Fisher (uncredited), Tim Herlihy.
Produced by: Juno Pix / New Line Cinema
Cast: Adam Sandler (Robbie Hart), Drew Barrymore (Julia Sullivan), Christine Taylor (Holly), Allen Covert (Sammy)
Rating : * * * * out of * * * * *
Official Website: www.weddingsinger.com.REVIVAL OF THE LOST GENRE
There are blood-dripping gory horror movies, hero type war stories, sweeping epics, romantic comedies, fantasy fairytales, sci-fi dramas, slapstick and cop flicks. Then there is the eighties movie.
Just when you thought it was safe to condemn the likes of Culture Club to the dusty storeroom and Singapore dancefloors, there comes a movie that says as much about a guy who sings at weddings for a living, as it does about eighties conventions of filmmaking. Just when you thought nobody made movies like THE BLUES BROTHERS or SAY ANYTHING anymore, comes THE WEDDING SINGER to revive the genre.
Here's the essential ten-point checklist that goes into the making of an Eighties Love Relationship Flick, according to director Frank Coraci of the THE WEDDING SINGER.
1. Have a ridiculously simple plot line. Go no further than Boy tries to get Girl, Boy fails to get Girl, Boy gets Girl.
2. Music is key. Saturate with eighties music. Saturate with references to pop stars. Music is everything in the eighties love flick. It's not simply an inclination, music is a lifestyle.
3. The production design and cinematography must be bright and colourful. Only the poseurs dress in Miami Vice white and black. Even the bar should look bright and happy.
4. It's all about hair. The bigger the hairdo, the cooler the individual. If the guy is some jock ass, he will have short hair. Permed hair is for heroes. You will notice Drew Barrymore defies this convention. That's because she is the anti-eighties character. Before she sucked up to Adam Sandler, she sucked up to ET. Still, she emerged from the decade and remained credible. She can do whatever she pleases.
5. State the obvious. Even if something is made glaringly apparent by facial gestures, blocking of actors and actresses, juxtaposition, do have the characters re-state the intention of the scene. Subtlety is a nineties convention, thanks to boring farts like Merchant-Ivory.
6. All's the world's a sitcom. A punchline should be delivered after a couple of exchanges. Have all sorts of fringe characters deliver asides, especially if they have cool hair like Steve Buscemi.
7. No gratuitous violence. One punch is about as far as people should go.
8. Who are you kidding? All people marry because they genuinely love their partners and staying faithful to your partner is the only commandment. Break it and you go to hell, with the likes of AC/DC and Meat Loaf.
9. There can be no role reversals. If the Girl comes on to the Boy, she's a whore. Even if the Girl does make moves towards courting the Boy, the Boy ultimately must checkmate.
10. The kiss consummates the relationship. No sex, just kissing. That's why who kissed who is critical. If one pair of lips was just the reluctant accessory, it doesn't count. There are three kisses in the Wedding Singer. One of them is faux, don't be misled.
Of course the movie has its minor pitfalls. Discontinuous editing and a couple of hollow punchlines aren't too well concealed. As an Eighties Romantic Comedy however, it grooves.
The Flying Inkpot's Rating System
* Wait for the TV2 broadcast.
** A little creaky, but still better than staying at home with Tonight With Gurmit.
*** Pretty good, bring a friend.
**** Amazing, potent stuff.
***** Perfection. See it twice.
Read current movie reviews at The Flying Inkpot.Read other movie reviews at The Flying Inkpot.Other film reviews by other writers can also be obtained from the InkVault through key word searches.
Explore the Flying Inkpot
They're Alive!
Concert Reviews
Bit deadish:
Other Resources at The Flying InkpotHome
![[ AMISTAD Photo ]](/film/images/weddingsinger.jpg)
