The Wedding Singer (PG-13, 2004)

common sense media says

Not the most original comedy, but many will enjoy.


parents & educators say
  • 50% say language is an issue
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that raunchiness, expletives, and occasional drunk-and-disorderly situations keep this movie well into the range of PG-13; it might be too much for some tweens.

Positive messages: You wouldn't necessarily want your kids acting like many of these characters.
Violence: A few punches thrown.
Sex: All talking and teasing, some of it at locker-room level.
Language: At the border of PG-13/R territory.
Consumerism: Heavy promotion (on the VHS tape) of a double-disc soundtrack and plentiful trailers for other New Line Video releases. In the movie itself a kid runs around costumed as horror character Freddy "Nightmare on Elm Street" Krueger, from the same film studio.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Everyone gets extremely drunk when upset, even the supposedly-responsible hero (who sarcastically urges another character to drink heavily and then drive home).

More on The Wedding Singer

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about Robbie's decisions and why he made the choices he did.

What's the story?

What's the story?
Set in 1985, THE WEDDING SINGER stars Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart, a mullet-wearing singer-songwriter in New Jersey who performs love songs at weddings with his band, which includes a cross-dressing Boy George impersonator. Robbie's great talent isn't his singing, however, but rather his peacemaking. At receptions he smoothly defuses embarrassing, alcohol-fueled blowups between angry in-laws, and he helps bitter best men sober up. Apparently Robbie's being orphaned at age 10 motivates his ideals of marriage and tranquility. Thus it's a shattering blow when his own fiancee is a no-show at the altar. Now it's responsible Robbie's turn to lapse into drunken bitterness. The friends he's made at the party center help him through the bad time, especially Julia (Drew Barrymore), a waitress engaged to junk-bond dealer Glenn (Matthew Glave). Robbie uses his business connections to help plan Julia's wedding, and in the process the two fall in love. Robbie sees clearly that the Miami Vice-fixated Glenn is a self-centered rat who cares more about his DeLorean auto than he does for Julia.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The Wedding Singer never stops nudging viewers -- mostly via pop-music references -- that it's set in 1985. Fashions are inspired by Michael Jackson, unspeakable haircuts derive from the group Flock of Seagulls, Billy Idol cameos as himself, and a new $800 tabletop device called a CD player gives great sound (only nobody knows what CDs are).

Sandler is a perennial kids' favorite thanks to recurring shtick as a grown man who (mis)behaves like a little boy. This comedy nicely lets Sandler mature a little bit onscreen, partially by surrounding him with characters significantly dumber and less upstanding than Robbie is. Robbie isn't pretentious or stuck on his own gallantry. He's polite in turning down sexual overtures from a Madonna-wannabe (Christine Taylor), and he even tries to convince Glenn to treat Julia better, before he realizes that he himself and Julia are a perfect match. It's not the most original comedy, but it's cute, and Robbie's situation could inspire the start of a discussion about ethical choices.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: New Line
Director: Frank Coraci
Cast: Adam Sandler, Christine Taylor, Drew Barrymore
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release: September 14, 2004
DVD release: September 14, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sexual content and profanity

This review was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say language is an issue
  • 33% say sexual content is an issue
  • 33% say there are positive messages
  • 33% say there are positive role models

Most useful reviews by all members

dramaqueen@hot ...
parent of 11 year old
 
Adam Sandler at his best!
funny movie great romantic comedy rated PG-13 good rating this i would let my kids watch this movie if i had any kids not a bad movie at all very good movie!

AuboisAcadiaSt ...
teen, 14 years old
 
inappropriate for children, but it's a good movie
i like this movie a lot, but it's not appropriate for kids. There's a lot of drinking, swearing and sexual talk in this movie. But there's Adam Sandler and Drew barrymore when they were younger!!! 12 and up i think is okay if they are mature

HP the Critic
kid, 12 years old
 
A great Sandler comedy
This is a awesome Sandler comedy that should be enjoyed by all.Although, it has a few uses of s**t and b***h and the "f" word twice and infrequent sexual dialouge and humor.I highly recommend it for people.

CSM Screen ...
teen, 17 years old
 
ADAM SANDLER ROCKS! AND HE'S A GREAT SINGER!

 
A surprisingly sweet & funny movie!
This movie far surpassed expectations. It is one of my (and my wife's) favorite movies. Yes, it is rough around the edges, but the sweetness of the main characters, and the delightful love story is so charming that other objections melt away. Yes, there is sexuality, a bit of physical violence, and some foul language (some of it so comical that it's irresistable!). But, for the most part, on-the-edge behavior is portrayed as NOT cool, leading to unhappiness, where sweetness, restraint, and sincerity wins overall. Highly recommended, but not for under 13.

foof012
kid, 12 years old
 
not bad
Its fine for kids aged 8 or 9

themovieking
teen, 16 years old
 
Very iffy but funny movie!!!!
This movie is very funny!!!! I was laughing relly hard!!!! But this movie as one of the badest language I had ever saw. They use the language like a R raded movie. This movie is super iffy. But it is a good movie.

 
The Wedding Singer is a great movie for older teens only and parents you need to know that this movie has some sexual content many in which are some nasty talk and some kissing characters used strong language throughout the movie and there are lots of drinking involved.

 
A Classic
I love this movie! The Wedding Singer is fantastic and very well done. I can't say enough good things about this movie. Their are so many scenes that you'll find yourselves watching again and again! The language is not so bad, there are a few awkward scenes about how to kiss properly and stuff like that, but really it's not bad at all! I TRULY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE!

 

JesusFreak ...
kid, 12 years old
 
ok comedy with some swearing for young teens and up
It is very good several S**Ts a few D**Ns and couple F**Ks but i would rate it on for 12y ear olds the sex talk isnt that bad but goes into "im tryin to get someone to play with your ding dong" but besides that Great movie!!!

TacoBall
teen, 16 years old
 
So-so comedy for older teens and adults
There were many funny parts in this movie, but I was very uncomfortable because my 11-year-old sister was watching it with us. Yes, it may be rated PG-13, but there were a lot of sexual and language issues that were just inappropriate for tweens and even young teens. I did think the ending was pretty funny, but it didn't compensate for the rest of the movie which was just OK.

im-gettin-money22
teen, 16 years old
 
ok
good movie but lots of bad stuff. it includes the f-word twice and many others.

JesusLuvsYew
teen, 18 years old
 
Eh, it's okay.
It's kinda boring, but funny too.

mcguire217
kid, 10 years old
 
about 17+
profanity:a** and b*tch kissey: in one sence a boy puts his hands on a ladys butt. They talk about a open mouth kiss. They go to a night club. durgs and drinking:at the night club. not goot role modols

movies make me :)
kid, 13 years old
 
i loved it 5 stars
funny sweet amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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