Sandler
plays Robbie Hart, a wedding singer of the 1980s, who loses it when his
fiancée dumps him – suddenly he’s singing love songs
with Kurt Cobain-like angst. The girl to bring his spirits back up,
waitress Julia (Drew Barrymore), has her own problems: namely a
self-centred cheat of a fiancée. The success of Singer
has more to do with the fact that Tim Herlihy’s script possessed
a little more heart than the Sandler films that came before it though,
credit should also be attributed to it’s gimmicky set-up. Setting
the film in 1985, some 13 years prior, opened up the floodgates for an
Ark of wildly amusing pop-culture gags – everything from Culture
Club impersonators, the Dallas
phenomenon, guys wanting to be Don Johnson and – and cameo
appearances from some icons of the decade. The film may have been just
as funky and funny had it been set in 1998, but the ‘retro’
element just gave it that something little bit more (not to mention,
did it help with soundtrack sales). Overlooked too, by most, is
the undeniable chemistry between the leads – Sandler and Drew
Barrymore. She’s just adorable, and as likeable as him, and they
seem to have some genuine sparks in the film. There are some treasured
moments between both of them - mostly, funny stuff, but a couple of
mushy bits too. The supporting cast are also fantastic – Matthew
Glave as Julia’s egotistical fiancée, Christina Taylor as
the flirty best friend, and most notably, veteran actress Ellen
Albertini Dow, who almost steals the show (especially when she raps
near the end of the film!), as the hip little granny, Rosie.
If
you don’t own it already, the DVD is definitely one to consider,
if you do – your money might be better spent on something else. EXTRAS
Not a lot on this re-issued DVD that wasn’t on the previous version.
There’s “apparently” a couple of new scenes (couldn’t spot them, so I’m
guessing it’s merely just an added line or extended sequence
somewhere), a sneak peek at the Broadway Musical (I kid you not!) and
an option to jump to any of the songs in the movie. Yep, nothing too
special at all. In fact, the best reason to buy this version is perhaps
for the DTS soundtrack – it sounds a ripper, heaps better than 5.1.
Conclusion:
Movie 80% Extras: 60%
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