Rhiannon Hendricks
Do You Really Want to Hurt Me is a song by Culture Club that was featured in the 1998 film *The Wedding Singer*. The film stars Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart, a wedding singer in 1985 New Jersey whose own wedding plans are derailed when he is left at the altar. He befriends Julia Sullivan, a waitress, and the two develop feelings for each other despite their respective relationships. The song Do You Really Want to Hurt Me is performed in the film by Alexis Arquette, who does an impersonation of Boy George, the lead singer of Culture Club. The film received mixed reviews from critics but has become a beloved comedy, with a sweet and beguiling storyline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Film | The Wedding Singer |
| Year | 1998 |
| Main Character | Robbie Hart |
| Robbie's Love Interest | Julia Sullivan |
| Julia's Fiancé | Glenn Gulia |
| Song | Do You Really Want to Hurt Me |
| Artist | Culture Club |
| Genre | New Wave |
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What You'll Learn
The Wedding Singer plot
The Wedding Singer is a 1998 comedy film starring Adam Sandler. The plot centres around Robbie Hart, a wedding singer in Ridgefield, New Jersey, in 1985, whose own wedding to his fiancée Linda is approaching.
On his wedding day, Robbie is left devastated when his sister, Kate, informs him that Linda has changed her mind and no longer wants to marry him. Robbie sinks into a depression, but is eventually convinced by his best friend, Sammy, to return to work. However, his depressed performance is poorly received.
Robbie meets and befriends Julia Sullivan, a new waitress at the reception hall where he works. He promises to sing at her wedding, but she is engaged to businessman Glenn Gulia, and no date has been set. Julia convinces Robbie to help her with her wedding plans, and their friendship blossoms. Julia's cousin, Holly, takes an interest in Robbie, and during a double date with Julia and Glenn, Robbie learns that Glenn frequently cheats on Julia and plans to continue doing so after they are married.
Conflicted by their growing feelings for each other, Robbie and Julia's relationship becomes strained when he pursues a job at a bank to try and impress her. Dejected, Robbie decides to give up on love and follow Sammy's lead in having shallow relationships with women. However, Sammy confesses that he is unhappy and encourages Robbie to take a chance and declare his feelings for Julia.
When Robbie goes to see Julia and tell her how he feels, he sees her through her bedroom window in her wedding dress, happily pretending she is marrying him. Unaware of this, Robbie assumes she is thinking of Glenn and leaves heartbroken. He gets drunk and encounters Glenn at his bachelor party, which leads to a confrontation. The next morning, Julia arrives at Robbie's house, only to find Linda there, reintroducing herself as Robbie's fiancée. Upset, Julia runs to Glenn and decides to marry him immediately.
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The Wedding Singer soundtrack
The 1998 film The Wedding Singer stars Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart, a wedding singer in 1985 New Jersey. The film features a memorable scene in which Alexis Arquette performs an impersonation of Boy George, singing Culture Club's "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me". This scene is referenced in the film's soundtrack, which includes the original version of the song by Culture Club.
Two soundtrack albums for the film, The Wedding Singer and The Wedding Singer Volume 2, were released in 1998 and featured mostly new wave songs. While the actors performed many of the songs in the film, the soundtrack albums primarily included the original versions of the songs, as well as some background songs, original songs, and dialogue from the film.
The Culture Club song "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" is not the only 80s hit to be featured on the soundtrack. Other new wave classics included are "Video Killed the Radio Star", performed by the Presidents of the United States of America, and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic", performed by The Police.
In addition to the 80s classics and film performances, the soundtrack also includes original songs and dialogue from the film, providing a comprehensive audio experience that captures the fun and emotion of The Wedding Singer.
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The Wedding Singer cast
"Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me" is performed by Culture Club in the 1998 film The Wedding Singer, starring Adam Sandler as Robbie Hart, a wedding singer in Ridgefield, New Jersey, in 1985. In the film, the song is sung by Alexis Arquette doing an impersonation of Boy George, which Boy George himself found hilarious.
The Wedding Singer also stars Drew Barrymore as Julia Sullivan, a new waitress at the reception hall where Robbie works. When Julia gets engaged to Glenn Gulia (Matthew Glave), Robbie promises to sing at her wedding. However, Julia develops feelings for Robbie, and when he arrives at her house to declare his feelings, he sees her happily pretending to be married to him in her wedding dress. Heartbroken, Robbie gets drunk and finds Glenn at his bachelor party with another woman. After a fight, Glenn punches Robbie and mocks him. The next morning, Julia arrives at Robbie's house, only to find Linda (Angela Featherstone), Robbie's ex-fiancée, introducing herself as his fiancée. Julia runs back to Glenn and tells him she wants to get married immediately.
Other cast members include Christine Taylor as Holly, Julia's cousin who finds Robbie attractive, and Allen Covert as Sammy, Robbie's best friend who encourages him to tell Julia how he feels. The film also features performances by Ellen Dow, who performs "Rapper's Delight" on the soundtrack album, and the Presidents of the United States of America, who perform "Video Killed the Radio Star."
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The Wedding Singer critical reception
The Wedding Singer, starring Adam Sandler, received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 72% based on 69 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The critics' consensus describes the film as "sweet, funny, and beguiling" but also "surprisingly sappy for an early Adam Sandler comedy". Metacritic, on the other hand, indicates "mixed or average reviews" with a weighted average score of 60 out of 100 based on 21 critics. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "A-".
The film, produced on a budget of $18 million, grossed $123 million worldwide. It is often ranked as one of Sandler's best comedies. Leonard Klady of Variety praised the director and writer, saying they "work in concert to maintain a quality of farce rooted in human comedy". Boy George, the inspiration for a character in the film, found the impersonation of him and the performance of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" hilarious.
The film was later adapted into a Broadway musical in 2006, starring Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti. The show received generally good reviews and was nominated for five Tony Awards and eight Drama Desk Awards.
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The Wedding Singer's impact on popular culture
The 1998 film The Wedding Singer, starring Adam Sandler, features the song "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me" by Culture Club. The song was originally released in 1982 and became a global hit, but its inclusion in the film helped to reintroduce it to a new generation.
In the film, Robbie Hart, a wedding singer, performs the song while impersonating Boy George, the lead singer of Culture Club. This scene has become one of the most memorable and comedic moments in the film, with Boy George himself commenting that he found the impersonation hilarious.
The Wedding Singer is known for its soundtrack, which features many new wave songs from the 1980s. Two soundtrack albums were released alongside the film, containing a mix of original songs and covers. "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me" was included on these albums, bringing the song back into the spotlight.
The film's impact on popular culture extends beyond the song "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me". It also popularized other songs from the era, such as "Video Killed the Radio Star" and "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic". Additionally, the film's plot and characters have left a lasting impression on audiences, with many viewers finding the story and performances endearing and comedic.
Overall, The Wedding Singer's inclusion of "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me" helped to reintroduce the song to a new audience and solidify its place in popular culture. The film's soundtrack and cultural references to the 1980s also contributed to its impact, making it a beloved comedy that continues to be enjoyed by viewers.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, "Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me" by Culture Club is featured in the 1998 film The Wedding Singer.
In the film, the song is performed by Alexis Arquette, doing an impersonation of Boy George.
Other songs featured in the film include "Video Killed the Radio Star" (performed by the Presidents of the United States of America), "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (performed by the Police), and "Grow Old With You", which is written by the protagonist Robbie.
