Thursday, November 7, 2013

THE WEDDING SINGER (1998)

Adam Sandler is a wedding singer and as far as wedding singers go he's pretty good at it.  A romantic at heart, he's always dreamed of getting married himself.  Unfortunately his girlfriend stands him up at the alter.  Almost too heartbroken to go on, he's coaxed out of his gloom to help a co-worker (Drew Barrymore) plan her wedding.  As the days pass, he realizes that this girl is actually the girl of his dreams, not his ex!  Also, her soon to be husband is a total douchelord.

That might sound like the story of a thousand different romantic comedies (and it is), but it's all THE WEDDING SINGER needs because it's honestly a great movie.  The main attractions are the delightful chemistry between Barrymore and Sandler, Steve Buscemi's hair, the awesome 80's soundtrack and the hilarious comedy.  Even after (easily) 30+ viewings I still enjoy every scene and can pretty much quote the entire thing.  "They were cones!"  I also really appreciated the fact that the "bad guy" (Drew's boyfriend), while he is a douche, isn't totally dislikable.  He's just an ass, but still very funny.

THE WEDDING SINGER is a truly fun movie and by far my most watched Adam Sandler film.  Highly recommended.  I am curious though as to why with so many 80's references and Drew Barrymore being the main star didn't they somehow work in an E.T. joke/reference?

FIREFOX (1982)

Vietnam vet Clint Eastwood is haunted by crippling war flashbacks.  Even all alone on his quiet, private land up in Alaska he still has flashbacks.  So when the government asks if he'd be willing to risk his life sneaking onto a top secret military base in Russia, stealing their most advanced stealth fighter and then flying it out of Russia he understandably says "No."  But he's the best goddamn it! The best!!!  So the next thing you know Eastwood is in Russia under a fake identity as a businessman.  Cloak and dagger shit happens and then he steals the airplane.

Personally, I liked the cloak and dagger second act of the film better than the supposedly exciting airplane stuff in the final act.  Mainly because if it's done right, the sneaking around with the enemy agents hot on your tail stuff never gets old, whereas the special effects in the airplane sequences were seriously dated.  Enjoyable film, especially for Eastwood fans, but the story was too straightforward for my tastes.  A few surprises, more suspense, grittier action...all of these things would have been welcome.  Middle-of-the-road recommendation.