--- title: "The Wedding Singer: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-wedding-singer/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-wedding-singer" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Wedding Singer (1998): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 9 reviews: 7 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find The Wedding Singer a warm, good-natured romantic comedy, with praise centred on Adam Sandler’s gentler performance and his chemistry with Drew Barrymore. The reviews repeatedly credit his charm and the pair’s believable affection with making a simple boy-meets-girl story work. The exaggerated 1980s setting and pop soundtrack also draw approval, adding comic energy to a romance that several critics find touching as well as funny. Reservations concern the storytelling more than the central pairing: the plot is described as loose or simple, while the lowbrow humour remains a qualification even in a favourable review. The Hollywood Reporter specifically faults a sagging middle, despite praising the supporting cast and soundtrack. The spread runs from enthusiastic to mixed, with no negative assessments recorded; RogerEbert.com offers a more reserved response, though it still appreciates the film’s amiable romance. ## Los Angeles Times — Kevin Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 1998. Thomas finds the film a sparkling, graceful romantic comedy that sends audiences home happy. He especially praises Adam Sandler’s unexpectedly appealing romantic performance and the charm he and Drew Barrymore bring to their roles. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-feb-13-ca-18517-story.html) ## Variety — Leonard Klady Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 1998. Klady finds the film spirited, funny, warm, and unabashedly romantic. He especially praises Adam Sandler’s breakthrough performance and the human warmth he brings to the comedy. [Read the review](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/the-wedding-singer-1200452909/) ## Empire — Caroline Westbrook Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. Westbrook finds the film irresistible, despite its simple boy-meets-girl story. She praises its exaggerated 1980s nostalgia, lively soundtrack, and the appealing pairing of Sandler and Barrymore. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/wedding-singer-review/) ## Radio Times — Alan Jones Rating 4/5. Jones finds the film an entertaining, good-natured romantic comedy. He praises the chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore and the film’s playful use of its 1980s setting and pop soundtrack. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-xf08dp/the-wedding-singer/) ## Total Film — Yael Shuv Rating 4/5. 5 June 1998. Shuv finds the film a pleasant, quirky, genuinely touching comedy that succeeds despite its loose plot and lowbrow humor. She especially praises Adam Sandler’s puppy-dog charm and the believable romantic chemistry he shares with Drew Barrymore. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-wedding-singer-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Michael Rechtshaffen Fi1m's normalised score 72/100 (inferred from the text). 12 February 1998. The review calls the film a winning romantic comedy and Sandler’s best effort, though it faults a sagging middle. It praises the supporting cast and the film’s lively use of its 1980s soundtrack. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wedding-singer-review-adam-sandler-drew-barrymore-1235324140/) ## The New York Times — Janet Maslin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 13 February 1998. The review views the film as a warmly entertaining romantic comedy. It singles out Adam Sandler’s gentler comic performance as a welcome change. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/13/movies/film-review-something-borrowed-85.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The available description offers no clear critical verdict. It identifies Sandler’s Robbie Hart as a wannabe rock star stuck on the wedding-band circuit. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-wedding-singer) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 2.5/4. 13 February 1998. Ebert gives the film a mixed assessment. He appreciates its amiable romantic comedy, though the page text available here does not reveal what he singled out. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-wedding-singer-1998) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-wedding-singer.md