The Impact of 'The Wedding Singer' on Adam Sandler's Career

Article Summary

The Wedding Singer brought about a change in Adam Sandler's professional trajectory, highlighting his adeptness at handling emotional content while simultaneously upholding his distinctive, light-hearted, and enjoyable style.

Sandler and Drew Barrymore share undeniable chemistry in The Wedding Singer, radiating a wholesome energy that makes them a perfect on-screen duo.

This film served as a stepping stone for Sandler, showcasing his ability to deliver genuine and nuanced performances beyond his comedic roles.

It may not reach the frenetic brilliance seen in Benny and Josh Safdie's 2019 crime thriller Uncut Gems, nor does it possess the quirky madness of Punch-Drunk Love, but The Wedding Singer stands as a standout film in Adam Sandler's repertoire. Remarkably, this distinction comes in spite of the fact that the movie falls within Sandler's post-SNL phase of goofy comedy, before he embarked on collaborations with more idiosyncratic filmmakers like the Safdies, Paul Thomas Anderson for Punch-Drunk Love, and Noah Baumbach for The Meyerowitz Stories. While audiences wouldn't witness this more artistically-inclined side of Sandler until a few years after The Wedding Singer's release in 1998, the film marked a turning point in the young comedian's career and hinted at the intriguing projects that lay ahead.

Image via New Line CinemaThe Wedding Singer

Robbie, a singer, and Julia, a waitress, find themselves engaged to the wrong individuals. Through a stroke of luck, they are brought together to uncover their true connection.

Released on February 13, 1998, this film was directed by Frank Coraci and features a talented cast including Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Christine Taylor, Allen Covert, Matthew Glave, and Ellen Albertini Dow. With a PG-13 rating and a runtime of 95 minutes, this comedy and romance genre movie was produced by New Line Cinema and written by Tim Herlihy. The tagline reads, "He's going to party like it's 1985!"

'The Wedding Singer' Is Proof That Adam Sandler Can Carry a Drama

The Wedding Singer marked a turning point in Adam Sandler's career, showcasing his talent for handling dramatic material with great conviction. While the overall tone of the film remains light and entertaining, it stands out as a departure from Sandler's previous projects which often featured absurd storylines like a hockey-player-turned-golfer in Happy Gilmore or an adult attending grade school in Billy Madison, or a waterboy-turned-football-star in The Waterboy. In contrast, The Wedding Singer delves into relatable, real-world themes such as heartbreak, depression, and romantic love. Throughout the majority of the film, Sandler portrays a deeply melancholic character, a stark contrast to his previous goofier and anger-fueled roles.

Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore Have Great Chemistry in 'The Wedding Singer'

Following the success of The Wedding Singer, Sandler swiftly transitioned towards exploring more profound and thought-provoking subject matter. Big Daddy delves into the themes of maturity and parenthood, while Punch-Drunk Love represents the initial step of his foray into artistic and independent cinema. As we examine several pivotal dramatic moments in The Wedding Singer, we will witness how this esteemed Sandler masterpiece signified the inception of a new chapter in his extensive and illustrious career.

Image via New Line Cinema

The chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore in The Wedding Singer is incredible. It's no wonder they teamed up again in 50 First Dates and Blended. In their first scene together, Sandler's character, Robbie, just finished a powerful performance at a wedding ceremony. He then helps a young kid who had too much to drink and is now facing the consequences. Both Sandler and Barrymore portray their characters, Robbie and Julia, with a cute and wholesome energy that makes them a perfect match. However, this scene presents an interesting challenge for Sandler. Robbie is already engaged to someone he loves, so Sandler must convey some attraction to Barrymore's character without being overly flirtatious or inappropriate. This is where their signature wholesomeness comes into play, as it's unimaginable for either character to betray their partners. Sandler delivers his lines with a twinkle in his eye that fades when he shifts back to a more formal demeanor. It's the ideal balance of being attracted but not too much, friendly but not flirtatious. If this scene had missed the mark, it would have dampened the audience's excitement for Robbie and Julia to end up together. But Sandler hits the mark perfectly.

Adam Sandler's Singing in 'The Wedding Singer' Is Both Moving and Hilarious

Image via New Line Cinema

In a scene about halfway through The Wedding Singer, Robbie performs an original song he’s written for Julia entitled “Somebody Kill Me Please.” He begins crying during the song as he wails about his heartbreak and depression. It’s a moment in which we’re expected to be simultaneously laughing at the mercurial nature of the song while also feeling Robbie's despondency. When we remove the comedic element, we are left with a scene where Robbie is moved to tears by a song. This scene effectively showcases Sandler’s explosive rage, which is typically used for comedic purposes but also serves dramatic roles in films like Punch Drunk-Love. In that film, Sandler's character experiences overwhelming pressure in his life and bursts into fits of fury and sadness. This scene in The Wedding Singer also foreshadows Sandler’s future performance in Reign Over Me (2007), where he portrays a man who lost his family on September 11th. In that film, the character's grief manifests in sudden bouts of intense emotion, resembling what we see in this particular scene.

'The Wedding Singer's Emotional Bar Scene Shows Adam Sandler's Range

Image via New Line Cinema

Sandler's ability to convey simmering anger is a standout attribute that writers and directors have taken advantage of for years. His characters often possess an innate wholesomeness that is constantly threatened by the harsh realities of life. This internal conflict builds up the anger within them until it reaches a boiling point, resulting in explosive outbursts. An exemplary instance of this can be seen in The Wedding Singer, during a heartfelt conversation between Robbie and his best friend Sammy (played by Allen Covert). Rather than resorting to exaggerated expressions, Sandler opts for a more restrained approach, effectively conveying his character's nihilistic outlook and resignation towards finding happiness.

After a few drinks at a bar, he engages in conversation with Sammy, a self-proclaimed womanizer. During their discussion, Sammy confides in Robbie about the unhappiness he experiences from objectifying women, leading Robbie to realize that his own cynicism is a dead-end path. While the scene includes humorous moments thanks to the witty remarks of an elderly man at the bar, overall, it carries a significant dramatic tone. In this pivotal moment of The Wedding Singer, Sandler showcases an intriguing ability: he speaks softly, barely audible, allowing his genuine emotions to shine through. This gentle demeanor becomes particularly effective when juxtaposed with his occasional outbursts in comedic scenes. However, for the purpose of creating a dramatic impact, he utilizes this skill to draw the audience in and establish a sense of intimacy.

'The Wedding Singer' Paved the Way for Sandler's Future Roles

Of course, Sandler's performance in The Wedding Singer does not quite reach the level of an Academy Award, but that is expected since it is a comedy. However, Sandler's humor shines through in this film. By exploring roles that allow for more authentic moments and immersing himself in characters that feel real, Sandler reveals his ability to do more than just make us laugh. It is difficult to see glimpses of the Sandler we see in Punch-Drunk Love, Uncut Gems, or Hustle in his comedic performances in Billy Madison or Happy Gilmore or The Waterboy. Nevertheless, we can observe the groundwork for those exceptional performances in The Wedding Singer, which holds a special place in his filmography. Moreover, it is a delightful and heartwarming film that is also available for streaming on Hulu in the U.S.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I have a few thoughts on the impact of "The Wedding Singer" on Adam Sandler's career. Firstly, I believe this film was a crucial turning point in Sandler's career, as it showcased his ability to handle dramatic material with great conviction. While he had previously been known for his goofy and anger-fueled roles, in "The Wedding Singer" he portrays a deeply melancholic character, which was a stark contrast to his previous work. This departure from his usual comedic persona allowed Sandler to demonstrate his range as an actor and paved the way for him to explore more profound and thought-provoking subject matter in future projects.

Secondly, I think the chemistry between Sandler and Drew Barrymore in "The Wedding Singer" was incredible. Their cute and wholesome energy made them a perfect on-screen duo, and it's no wonder they teamed up again in "50 First Dates" and "Blended." Their natural chemistry was a major factor in the success of "The Wedding Singer" and helped to make the film a beloved classic. Overall, I believe "The Wedding Singer" was a significant film in Adam Sandler's career, as it showcased his dramatic abilities, his chemistry with Drew Barrymore, and set the stage for his future roles.