The Wedding Singer

The Wedding Singer
Directed by	Frank Coraci
Produced by	Robert Simonds
Written by	Tim Herlihy
Starring	Adam Sandler Drew Barrymore Christine Taylor Allen Covert Matthew Glave Steve Buscemi Jon Lovitz
Music by	Teddy Castellucci Cindy Wilson
Cinematography	Tim Suhrstedt
Editing by	Tom Lewis
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date(s)	February 13, 1998 (US) 5 June, 1998 (UK)
Running time	95 min.
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$21,000,000

The Wedding Singer is a 1998 film written by Tim Herlihy and directed by Frank Coraci. Set in the 1980s, the film stars Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart, a wedding singer and Drew Barrymore as Julia Sullivan, the object of his affections.

The Wedding Singer was later adapted into a stage musical with the same title, debuting on Broadway in early 2006 and closing on New Year's Eve.

Plot

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Set in 1985, Robbie Hart (Adam Sandler) is a wedding singer from the town of Ridgefield, New Jersey. Engaged to his long-time girlfriend, Linda (Angela Featherstone), he meets and befriends a waitress, Julia Sullivan (Drew Barrymore), at the reception hall where he regularly performs. Julia is also engaged, to businessman Glenn Gulia (Matthew Glave).

On his wedding day, Robbie is devastated when Linda leaves him standing at the altar, citing his failure to move on with his singing career. Robbie tries to move forward with his life, but despair hinders his performances. Julia tries to cheer him up, and later asks him to help her plan her own wedding. Initially reluctant, Robbie eventually agrees, and their friendship blossoms. During a double date between Julia and Glenn, and Robbie and Julia's cousin, Holly (Christine Taylor), Robbie learns that Glenn is unfaithful to Julia.

Julia and Robbie are increasingly confused by their deepening feelings for each other, and Robbie labours under the misapprehension that an "adult" job will impress Julia. She becomes angry with him for assuming that she is marrying Glenn for his money. After confiding in his best friend, Sammy (Allen Covert), Robbie finally decides to confess his true feelings and heads to Julia's house. When he arrives, he sees her through her bedroom window. Julia is wearing her wedding dress and happily imagining herself as Robbie's wife, but Robbie mistakenly believes that she is looking forward to marrying Glenn.

Heartbroken, Robbie leaves to get drunk and finds Glenn in the midst of his bachelor party. After a heated exchange, Glenn sucker punches Robbie. An intoxicated Robbie goes home and finds Linda waiting for him, and wanting to reconcile. Robbie passes out, but the following morning, Linda answers the door and introduces herself as Robbie's fiancée to a crestfallen Julia. Julia runs to Glenn, wanting to be married immediately, and Glenn happily offers to take her to Las Vegas.

Robbie awakens and promptly breaks it off with Linda for good. Inspired by the 50th wedding anniversary of his friend Rosie, to whom he has been giving singing lessons, Robbie decides to pursue Julia. Just then, Holly arrives, telling him of Julia's plans. Robbie, Sammy, and Holly rush to the airport, where Robbie books a flight to Las Vegas; his ticket is first class because the coach seats are sold out. After telling his story to a sympathetic audience in first class which includes Billy Idol (playing himself, sporting his '80s trademarked spiked hairdo and biker attire), Robbie learns that Glenn and Julia are on the same flight. Over the loudspeaker, and with the help of Billy Idol and the flight crew, Robbie sings a song he has written called "Grow Old With You," which he has dedicated to Julia. Meanwhile, Glenn is forced and locked into one of the airplane's bathroom stalls (presumably until the flight is over and Robbie and Julia are off the plane). The two admit their love for each other and as they're about to kiss, Billy Idol interrupts. Impressed with Robbie's song, Billy plans to tell the record companies about him, allowing Robbie to finally fulfill his dream of being a songwriter.

The movie closes with Julia and Robbie's wedding.

Soundtrack

Two soundtrack albums for The Wedding Singer, called "The Wedding Singer" and "The Wedding Singer Volume 2", were released, both in 1998. The film contained many scenes of singing at weddings, with songs performed by the film's cast. The soundtrack albums, for the most part, contained the original versions of these songs instead, as well as songs that were in the background during the film, and original songs and dialogue from the film. Only for "Rapper's Delight" was the film's rendition (by Ellen Dow), used, in combination with the original recording.

The track listing of the first album is:

1. "Video Killed the Radio Star" (originally performed by The Buggles), performed by The Presidents of the United States of America
2. "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me", performed by Boy George
3. "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", performed by The Police
4. "How Soon Is Now?", performed by The Smiths
5. "Love My Way", performed by The Psychedelic Furs
6. "Hold Me Now", performed by Thompson Twins
7. "Every Day I Write the Book", performed by Elvis Costello
8. "White Wedding", performed by Billy Idol
9. "China Girl", performed by David Bowie
10. "Blue Monday", performed by New Order
11. "Pass the Dutchie", performed by Musical Youth
12. "Have You Written Anything Lately?"
13. "Somebody Kill Me", written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, performed by Adam Sandler
14. "Rapper's Delight" (medley), performed by Sugarhill Gang and Ellen Dow

The track listing of the second album is:

1. "Too Shy", performed by Kajagoogoo
2. "It's All I Can Do", performed by The Cars
3. "True", performed by Spandau Ballet
4. "Space Age Love Song", performed by A Flock of Seagulls
5. "Private Idaho", performed by The B-52's
6. "Money (That's What I Want)", performed by Flying Lizards
7. "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)", performed by Dead or Alive
8. "Just Can't Get Enough", performed by Depeche Mode
9. "Love Stinks", performed by The J. Geils Band
10. "You Make My Dreams", performed by Hall & Oates
11. "Holiday", performed by Madonna
12. "Grow Old With You", written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy, performed by Adam Sandler

Songs and renditions that appeared in the movie, but were not included in the soundtrack albums, were:

• "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)" (originally performed by Dead or Alive), performed by Adam Sandler
• "Der Kommissar", performed by After the Fire
• "99 Luftballons", performed by Nena
• "Till There Was You", written by Meredith Willson, performed by Ellen Dow
• "Don't Stop Believin'" (originally performed by Journey), performed by "Low Strung"
• "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" (originally performed by Boy George), performed by Alexis Arquette
• "Boys Don't Cry", performed by The Cure
• "Holiday" (originally performed by Madonna), performed by Adam Sandler
• "All Night Long (All Night)", performed by Lionel Richie
• "Love Stinks" (originally performed by The J. Geils Band), performed by Adam Sandler
• "That's All", written by Alan Brandt & Bob Haymes, performed by Adam Sandler
• "Ladies' Night" (originally performed by Kool & the Gang), performed by Jon Lovitz
• "Do You Believe in Love", performed by Huey Lewis and the News
• "Jam on It", Newcleus
• "Miami Vice Theme", performed by Jan Hammer
• "Hungry Heart", performed by Bruce Springsteen
• "True" (originally performed by Spandau Ballet), performed by Steve Buscemi
• "The Goofball Brothers Show", written and performed by Sourcerer
• "Material Girl", performed by Madonna
• "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go", performed by Wham!

Chart positions

External links

• The Wedding Singer at the Internet Movie Database
• The Wedding Singer at Allmovie