The Wedding Singer

Independent Films, Film Profiles

The Wedding Singer is a 1998 film written by Tim Herlihy and directed by Frank Coraci that 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.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 is performing one night. Julia is also engaged, to fiancé Glenn Gulia (Matthew Glave).On his wedding day, Robbie is devastated when Linda leaves him standing at the altar. She later faces him at his home, telling him that his failure to move on with his singing career led her to change her mind. Robbie tries to move forward with his life, but his 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 as they spend more time together and become closer.Julia's cousin, Holly (Christine Taylor), asks to be set up on a double date with Robbie and Glenn. Julia becomes jealous when Holly throws herself at Robbie and drinks to excess. Holly takes her to the bathroom, and while the girls are away, Glenn brazenly admits to Robbie that he has been cheating on Julia for some time and will continue to do so, even after the wedding. At the end of the evening, Robbie, with a pained expression, watches Glenn take Julia home. Robbie later takes Holly home, and when he rebuffs her advances, Holly realizes that he is in love with Julia.Julia and Robbie are increasingly confused by their deepening feelings for each other. Robbie tries to get a "real" job to impress Julia, but not only is he unable to do so, but she becomes angry with him for assuming that she is marrying Glenn for his money. Drowned in sorrow, Robbie goes to a bar and meets up with his best friend, Sammy (Allen Covert), a limo driver and wannabe ladies' man. Robbie tells Sammy that he is in love with Julia. He also reveals the truth about Glenn, and his guilt over wanting to stop Glenn and Julia's wedding. Robbie debates becoming a womanizer like Sammy, who seems to be happy as such, but Sammy admits that he is miserable and that all he really wants is someone to comfort him.Robbie finally decides to confess his 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, he 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, wanting to reconcile, on his lawn. In the morning, Julia comes to confess her love for Robbie, but is astonished when Linda answers the door. Linda 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 a short time after Julia and Linda's conversation. Realizing that Linda is merely "settling" for him, Robbie 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 that Julia is on a plane to Las Vegas, where she and Glenn will get married. 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.Onboard the flight to Las Vegas, obvious signs of Glenn and Julia's incompatibility begin to manifest themselves. Meanwhile, Robbie tells his story to a sympathetic audience in first class which includes Billy Idol (playing himself). When Robbie overhears a flight attendant (Shanna Moakler) complaining about a coach passenger who had sexually harrassed her, using language similar to that which Glenn had used on the double date, he peeks into coach and sees that Glenn and Julia are there. Over the loudspeaker, and with the help of Billy Idol and the flight crew, Robbie sings a song he has just written. The song is called "Grow Old With You," inspired by Julia's earlier comment that she believed her ideal man was someone with whom she could see herself growing old. He emerges from the first class cabin to serenade an ecstatic Julia while Glenn is waylaid by Billy Idol, the other passengers, and the flight crew when he tries to interfere.The movie closes with Julia and Robbie's wedding, as the band, with the best man (an uncredited Steve Buscemi, who played another best man earlier in the film) singing "True" with the wedding ensemble.