The Wedding Singer appears in an aspect ratio of approximately 1.85:1 on this single-sided, double-layered DVD; the image has been enhanced for 16X9 televisions. This was a consistently excellent transfer.
Sharpness looked great. Even wide shots appeared crisp and concise, with nary a hint of softness in sight. This was a well-develop image. No issues with jagged edges or shimmering occurred, and I also failed to notice any edge enhancement. Source flaws created no concerns either. I saw no specks, marks, or other blemishes here.
Given the bright colors associated with the Eighties, I expected a vivid palette from Singer. That’s what the movie displayed, as it went for many dynamic hues. The DVD replicated them very well. The tones were always vibrant and rich. Blacks seemed dense and firm, while shadows were clear and smooth. This was a really impressive visual presentation.
For this DVD of The Wedding Singer, we got both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 soundtracks. At no point did I discern any substantial differences between the two. I thought the pair sounded virtually identical.
Since the mixes worked well, I didn’t mind the apparent redundancy. Romantic comedies don’t usually offer lively soundfields, but this film’s emphasis on music allowed it to open up more than expected. From the many live performances to the slew of Eighties tunes, the movie featured various numbers on a nearly constant basis. These displayed fine stereo imaging and also spread to the surrounds in a nice way to create an involving piece. Effects were a smaller role, but they added some ambiance to the piece.
Audio quality appeared to be positive. Speech sounded crisp and natural, and I noticed no signs of edginess or problems with intelligibility. Music and effects demonstrated fine clarity and they seemed distinctive. Low-end was quite good, especially in regard to the music. The various tunes appeared lively and full. Overall, this mix acted as a nice complement to the action.
Only a few extras round out this DVD, as New Line clearly expects to move copies due to the presence of the extended cut. A featurette called A Backstage Look at The Wedding Singer on Broadway lasts 10 minutes and 31 seconds. This piece examines the new stage adaptation of the film. It involves comments from screenwriter/musical co-writer Tim Herlihy, producers Margo Lion and Michael Rego, lyricist/co-writer Chad Beguelin, composer Matthew Sklar, director John Rando, musical director/conductor James Sampliner, choreographer Rob Ashford, costume designer Gregory Gale, set designer Scott Pask, lighting designer Brian MacDevitt, and actors Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti.
The program looks at the production’s genesis and then runs through various elements. We learn a little about casting, the songs, production design and costumes, and other related subjects before we see a small snatch of the show. All of this is mildly interesting at best. In truth, this featurette acts as an advertisement. It exists to sell musical tickets and that’s it.
80s Mix Tapes gives us some information about the movie’s 35 songs. If you click on one of them, you’ll learn a little about it and also be able to jump to its inclusion in the film. This turns into a cute and slightly informative component.
In addition to the theatrical trailer for Singer, more ads appear in the Sneak Peeks area. There you’ll find promos for Wedding Crashers, Monster In Law, Dumb and Dumber, National Lampoon’s Adam and Eve and How to Lose Your Lover.
A highly entertaining romantic comedy, The Wedding Singer overcomes its predictable story. Charming lead performances help make this happen and turn it into a sweet and endearing film. The DVD offers excellent picture and very good audio but skimps on extras.
This is a good disc for new fans to get, but if folks who own the old one feel happy with its visual and sound quality, there’s no reason to pick up the “Totally Awesome Edition”. It adds a slightly extended version of the film but doesn’t provide any other compelling new elements.