The Wedding Singer, 1998, PG-13. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore
By Dan Dunkle, Executive Editor
If you are looking for a romantic comedy, even if you do not know your date’s tastes yet, this is probably a safe bet. It is an Adam Sandler movie, but it is also a Drew Barrymore film. Both actors were at the peak of their careers.
Set in 1985, popular wedding singer Robbie (Sandler) is left at the alter because his girlfriend wants him to be more ambitious.
I think we have all had that bad breakup, and Sandler does not pull any punches in showing the pain Robbie endures. This is made doubly difficult since his job is to sing to people who have found everlasting love (or think they have!). He meets Julia (Barrymore) and sparks fly, but of course she’s about to marry a stockbroker jerk.
There are a lot of fun little things in this movie, like Alexis Arquette as a Boy George-influenced band member, Christine Taylor of Dodgeball and Arrested Development playing a friend, Steve Buscemi as the drunken relative, and the rapping of Ellen Albertini Dow. I could go on and on, but you probably already know all this.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 2002, PG. Nia Vardalos and John Corbett
By Dan Dunkle, Executive Editor
This is just a straight-up funny movie, and you can watch it with anyone, even your parents.
Nia Vardalos plays a young woman who is growing old before her time working in her father’s Greek restaurant. Love seems a long shot in part because she is constantly smothered by her adorable but overbearing family.
Along comes John Corbett, who I always think of as the DJ in “Northern Exposure,” and saves her. Vardalos and Corbett are so insanely likeable you can’t help but root for them. When the bride’s eccentric dad offers his medical advice to the would-be son-in-law, I totally lost it. Worth the price of admission right there.
Corpse Bride, 2005, PG. Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter
By Christine Simmonds, Assistant Editor
Corpse Bride is a stop-motion dark comedy musical by Tim Burton, a la “Nightmare Before Christmas.”
It is Victorian England. Victor and Victoria are about to be wed in an arranged marriage for financial reasons. When the two meet, it seems they get along pretty well. Maybe they could even like each other, not that THAT matters for a wedding, their parents make clear.
Victor (Depp) cannot do anything right, ending with him setting his future mother-in-law on fire. He is banished and told to rehearse! While he is practicing, Victor accidentally marries dead girl Emily (Bonham Carter). Typical.
There are some spooky scenes that might be too much for younger kids. It’s not PG-13, but parents might want to review this film first for scare factor.
This movie is cute and fun and funny. If you liked “Nightmare Before Christmas” then this is the wedding movie for you!
Father of the Bride, 1991, PG. Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Martin Short
By Christine Simmonds, Assistant Editor
This film was my introduction to Steve Martin. I watched this comedy innumerable times as a child.
The movie follows George and Nina Banks (Martin and Keaton) as they plan the wedding of daughter Annie.
While Nina is very supportive of Annie’s upcoming nuptials, George is not ready to let his little girl grow up, and he is certainly not ready to shell out all this money for the big day.
Lots of fantastic comedic moments with Steve Martin, of course, including a run-in with some Dobermans and a melt-down in a supermarket. Keaton does a great job playing the straight man. Obviously Martin Short steals every scene he is in as the wedding planner.
This movie does a great job poking fun at all the worst parts of planning a wedding, and celebrating the joys of the day as well. I enjoyed it just as much so many years later, and was delighted to spot Eugene Levy as a wedding singer!
“Father of the Bride” is a fun wedding movie the whole family can enjoy.
Twilight, Breaking Dawn: Part One, 2011, PG-13. Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
By Emma Testerman, Columnist
In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past 10 years, “The Twilight Saga” is a book-turned-movie series about a moody, boring Arizona girl named Bella Swan (Stewart) who falls in love with sparkling vampire Edward Cullen (Pattinson).
This third movie in the franchise starts with Bella and Edward’s wedding. The rest of the movie is the couple’s honeymoon and the aftermath.
They have this rather beautiful ceremony. As much fun as it is to hate on the book series and movies altogether, this scene was a breath of fresh air. Beautiful forest scenery, and her dress is stunning – the costume department didn’t skimp on the button and lace details.
My favorite part of this scene is Bella’s wedding jitters, and her father sharing a short but special moment before they walk down the aisle. I thought it was a wonderful scene to have a small dialogue between them.
Obviously this is less of a wedding movie than the other films, but was a fun addition to our list.
The Princess Bride, 1987, PG. Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Mandy Patinkin and Andre the Giant
By Holly Vanorse Spicer, Editorial Assistant
As an ’80s kid, I remember my parents renting this movie from Oakside Video in South Thomaston. My older sister and I sat glued to the screen in our living room watching it.
This cult classic features easily memorable and quotable lines, genre melding and a pretty star-studded cast.
There’s commoner to princess trope, with Buttercup (Wright) becoming engaged to Prince Humperdinck (Chris Sarandon). The lost love tied in with damsel in distress trope, as Westley (Elwes) comes to save his true love, Buttercup.
Revenge, with Inigo Montoya (Patinkin) seeking the six-fingered man who killed his father.
And of course the famous wedding scene: “Mawwiage is what bwings us togeder today.”
Action, drama, comedy, suspense — will Humperdinck get Buttercup back and to the throne to follow through with his plan?
Sure, it is a bit silly, cheesy even, but it is ageless fun for everyone.
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