8A- The Michigan Daily - Monday, February 16, 1998 'Singer' hits nostalgic note Courtesy of New Line Cinema Drew Barrymore is living In a material world in the '80s throwback "Singer." IEFI!1TH OIr T 1 Reducing, Reusing, -.. Bring this ad for Recycling, and 10% o * Supporting ® r nic Farmin on a natural rga g , foods purchase! since we opened i Coupon expires 3/21/98. our doors in 1971! One per person,-please. ANN ARBOR'S COMMUNITY-OWNED NATURAL FOODS GROCERY ® Walk from campus! 216 N. 4th Ave. - near Zingerman's' 994-9174 Sun-Fri 9am-10pm, Sat 8am-10pm www.izzy.net-pfc ° By Ryan Posly Daily Arts WVriter Based solely on soundtrack, "The Wedding Singer' is the movie of the year; any film that includes both Huey Lewis & the News and The Smiths within the same hour and a half has accomplished the wonderfully impossible in terms of fringe '80s kitsch. Indeed, most of the time, the newest Adam Sandler comedy is not much more than a delightful trip down memory lane - it's so simple it's scary. And yet it's also one of the most mindlessly enjoyable movies in recent memory. Adam Sandler is best known for playing a variation of the immature goofball or the intellectually stunted man-child. either on "Saturday Night Live" or in such idiotic films as "Billy Madison" and "Happy Gilmore." But some of his lesser-known characters from "SNL," as well as many of the songs on his two comedy albums, have showcased a more subdued persona and a sharp wit. While it is still a stretch. it is not too surprising to find Sandler in a romantic come- dy in which he plays the low-key nice guy and lets the story, instead of the antics, take center stage. Although the plot is simple, it is also surprisingly sweet. The year is 1985 - the height of spandex, man-made "hot" colors and big hair. Robbie Hart (Sandler) is the most pop- ular wedding singer in his small suburban town. He is about to get married to his longtime sweetheart when she dumps him at the altar. Thrown into a state of depression, Robbie's life starts to take a turn for the better as he begins to spend time with Julia, played by the glowing Drew Barrymore. Julia is a reception-hall waitress whose own approaching wedding is doomed by her cheating, asinine fiance. In a story like this, it's not giving anything away to say that Robbie and Julia fall in love, Julia realizes the errors of her impending nuptials and they all live happily ever after. But despite its obvious lack of originality, there's something about this story that grows on'us until its final, hilarious climax, at which point you're smiling so widely that you don't care if you've seen it a million times before. Maybe it's the intense nostalgia of the film. Frank Coraci, the director, capitalizes on every opportunity to The Wedding Singer At Briarwood and Showcase throw in the obvious '80s references. A Freddy Kreuger mask here. a Dunkin Donuts commercial there, all the ridiculously flashy clothes, all the absurdly catchy songs. It all adds up to a movie that draws a substantial amount of its humor, as well as its charm, from its over-the-top 'Sts setting. Perhaps it's the finale itself that elevates this mop is to more than just a cheesy romantic comedy. The last 15 minutes are inspired and feature a sweet Sandler and his guitar, with a little help from '80s rock icon Billy Idol (yes, the real Billy Idol playing himself 13 years ago). Or maybe it's the bizarre 6ncredited appearances of such peo- ple as Jon Lovitz (as a rival wedding singer) and Steve Buscemi (as the less-liked brother of a groom at one of the weddings). Or it could be the wray that the film, for no real reason. has a great deal of fun w;ith the elder- ly (not makes fun of, but has fun with). All are valid reasons why "The Wedding Singer" latches onto us and doesn't let go, yet the primary reason Original #cynicisms rule'Dania' By Michael Galloway Daily Arts Writer The second season of"Daria," the cartoon show chronicling the adventures of that cynical teenage iconoclast of beauty and popularity, premieres tonight and, hopefully, a lot of people will tune in. But after "Metrose Place" and "Ally McBeal " many television viewers might be feeling a little too guilty to do so. After all. "Mel rose Place" is all about sex, ambition, and hot bods, and "Ally McBeal" undermines itself a tad because all of its female characters are what Daria's popular sister Quinn woild call "cute." Quint and her fellow mem- bers of the Lawndale Fashion Club hold cuteness as the ulti- mate measure of a person. But if TV movies, magazines and fashion are any indication, the majority of uis feet the same way. In the second episode of the new season, Quinn's friends Sandy and Tiffany deny that looks are important right after Sandy asks if Quinn is was cuter than she, "Darla"'reveals these hypocriti- cal aspects of society, and while the show might seem a bit con- frontational to viewers, the effort u simply is the presence and chemistry of Sandler and Barrymore. It is so obvious that they are meant for each other that we can do nothing but root for them. Sandler proves that he doesn't have to play the loud-mouthed idiot in sophomoric comedies to get laughs, and Barrymore -- far his superior as an actor - proves that sometimes all it takes to succeed on screen is a radiance that will break the audience's heart. On the surface. there is absolutely nothing about "The Wedding Singer" that strikes one as exceptional - it's like an American "Four Weddings and a Funeral' without the incomparable Hugh Grant. Yet when you see it, you can't resist it. And although it's burdened by a slow start and heavy-handed dialogue, it's bound to become the film that sparks a wave of disturbing '80s nostalgia, and if you miss that, then as we all somehow used to say your ass is grass. Cafe Shapiro A study break of student readings & free coffee Where talking in the Library is encouraged.. Come hear your peers read from their works. You'll hear stories, poems, memoirs, you name it. Each night will feature different writers. Cafe Shapiro is free and open to everyone. Complimentary coffee will be served. Readings will begin at 8:30 pm in the Shapiro Undergraduate Library's atrium on each of the following dates: Sunday, February 15 Monday, February 16 'Tbesday, February 17 Wednesday, February 18 Cafe Shapiro is part of the University ofMichigan s YotA (Year of lumanities & Arts) celebration and is sponsored by the Unirersitt L brarJ, Get some 'Sense' In honor of the release of Marlon Wayans' latest film, Daily Arts is knocking our readers senseless - "Senseless" that is. Also starring David Spade, the film will be given a special sneak preview screening Wednesday night and you can be there. To get yourself a little "Sense," stop by the Daily Arts office in the PublicationsY Building atf 420 Maynard ' '° St. after 1 >' p.m. today and name t wo other Wayans fami ly members.: is worthwhile. ) a r i a M or g en - dorffer is a smart, sar- castic and unemotional high school student at L a w n d a 1 e Hich who b a s i c a I11 y doesn't care that she is unpopular. "I don't have low self- Darla MTV Mondays at 10:30 eau Hurry in. It's Bonus Time at the Clinique counter. esteem. I have low esteem for everyone else," she says. Luckily, Daria has her best friend Jane -- also smart and unpopular - an artist who has taken the school's self-esteem class several times. Jane explains so mewh at self-mockingly that she likes having low self-esteem because it makes her feel special. She has three sisters --Summer, Wind, Penny - and a brother, Trent. Uncharacteristically, Darla almost has interest in this unem- ployed, graduated band member, who sleeps when he's not practic- ing with his band. In tonight's episode, "Arts N' Crass," Daria's friend Jane is talked into participating in the statewide student art contest. Students are asked to give their vision of high school life, but since it's not specified that the message has to be positive, Jane decides to send a negative one exposing the reality of student life. She asks Daria for help because, as Jane put it to her, "you're the most negative person I know." After a long brainstorming ses- sion, coming up with ideas like naming a hanging roll of fly paper "It's important to be attractive," the duo creates a finished product. But the glory-seeking principal, Ms. Angela Li, and the overly sen- sitive English teacher, Mr. O'Neil, don't think the message is positive enough. The episode champions artistic integrity as well as the importance of actually saying "don't" in a message meant to dis- courage. "Dania"'s only flaw is that the characters are too stereotypical. They can seem sterile and Dana's sarcastic remarks can seem pre- dictable at times. Still, tonight's episode is fresh and original, and who can honest- ly say that about "Melrose Place?" 0 m LIKE NORTH CAMPUS? YOU'LL i ovR S .. Y........ :. .:.y......~ I