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Supporting Cast steals the show at ‘The Wedding Singer’

By Daniel Hines
Publisher
TodaysSeniorsNetwork.com

‘The Wedding Singer’ is a show with so much potential, and some pretty good actors in place—but comedy is hard. 

Anticipating something more like the wonderful and delightful ‘Mamma Mia’, we had to settle for the admittedly strong contribution of the supporting cast which added some important—and needed dimension—to the production.

By now, probably everyone is familiar with the concept of the show thanks to Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore…but don’t expect that kind of quirky likeability that Sandler seems to convey with his ‘Everyman’ can get the girl, be the strongest guy in town, or ‘street-wise philosopher’ with a mix of sarcasm, but tenderness.

Perhaps it is not fair to ask Merritt David James to tackle Sandler’s role of Robbie, a leader of a really weird band that performs at—you guessed it—weddings.  And therein lies the potential—funny, stupid weddings…a band with a punk and a wanna-be Boy George…being left at the altar…and then finally finding real happiness with a new bride (who gratefully chooses Robbie over a pompous junk bond dealer). 

But, unfortunately, James seldom comes through as much more than a one-dimensional character that reminds us of an old cardboard cutout of Elvis. 

On the other hand, his band—George, played with just enough understatement as to be truly  effective, by John Jacob Lee,  and Sammy, a really humorous stereotype of how someone might conceive being a ‘rocker ‘ in the ‘80s certainly will remind you of someone you knew if the ‘80s is your era, provide laughs as some truly likable characters.

Erin Elizabeth Coors is an appropriately air-head Julia, who first befriends the rejected Robbie only to eventually (guess what!) fall in love with him.  While not a lovable Pixie like Barrymore, she is up to the task of providing some fun numbers, especially when she urges a drunken Robbie to come up out of the dumpster into which he was thrown by a disgruntled audience after he vents his frustration at being left at the altar.

A special word about Penny Harper, who plays Robbie’s Grandmother. We enjoyed a truly delightful interview with her on TSN Radio on the Web (click here to hear interview). 

And, we were not disappointed in her scene-stealing opportunities as Robbie’s Grandmother Rose.  A real veteran with a great show business heritage (parents who were headliners in Vaudeville), Penny is genuinely fun and funny.  She offers great timing and, even with her limited appearances, she develops the necessary dimensions of her character. 

And therein lies the challenge, not of the show’s concept, but of Robbie and several others—a connection with the audience. 

It ‘s ironic that this should happen.  The Fox has scored some wonderful successes this season with a look to the past—the wonderful Beatles tribute ‘Rain’, the Rat Pack Tribute to Sinatra, Martin and Davis, and the eagerly awaited presentations of ‘Mamma Mia’ and ‘The Jersey Boys.’  ‘The Wedding Singer’ could have been a perfect fit with this stroll down memory lane.  Perhaps, with the help from some of the really good supporting cast, it will fulfill its potential.