The Broadway-bound show recently had its world premiere at The 5th Avenue Theater and eager audiences packed the house, hoping to be the first ones to see another “Hairspray” success story get its start in Seattle.

With an original score, written by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin, that transverses the full range of ‘80s styles, complete with Gregory Gale’s trendy costumes and humorous references to pop culture period icons, “The Wedding Singer” is an entertaining blast from the past.

But, it’s no “Hairspray.” Despite strong vocals, high-octane dance numbers and a steady rock vibe, the show lacks that spark of magic that makes viewers know they are in the presence of something special.

The musical, under the direction of John Rando, basically follows the outline of the story of the 1998 film on which it’s based: a Jersey wedding singer gets jilted at the altar and eventually finds true love with the waitress of his dreams.

In the movie, the leads were played by Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, two actors who had that blend of funny chemistry between them. Here, Stephen Lynch and Laura Benanti take on the roles of Robbie and Julia and although both do a commendable job vocally, the result of their partnership is ho-hum bland.

The pair fails to make that special connection that makes it clear why they are suited for one another. Lynch has a few opportunities to burst out of his nice guy, wholesome persona, mainly in the numbers “Somebody Kill Me” and “Casualty of Love,” when he gets to show a darker, more humorous side to his character, but most of the time, he plays his role one dimensional.

Benanti’s Julia doesn’t seem to have much to do other than act naïve and innocent, as she wistfully ponders true love and her impending marriage.

It’s the secondary characters in this show that are the most interesting and who have the chance to shine. Julia’s spunky Madonna-wanna be friend Holly (Amy Spanger), Julia’s arrogant bond trader fiancé Glen (Richard H. Blake), Robbie’s flaky musician pals Sammy (Matthew Saldivar) and George (Kevin Cahoon), as well as Robbie’s vamp ex-fiancée, Linda (Felicia Finley) and his rapping grandma Rosie (Rita Gardner), get to strut their stuff and bring life to the show in some of the more rollicking, crowd-pleasing numbers.

The music ranges from ballads to pop rock and rap, with even a few tunes for the head banger set, and it’s heavy on the synthesizers, electric guitars and funky drum tracks. When the band heats up, Rob Ashford’s choreography sizzles with feverish excitement and the joint gets hoppin’.

Skirts flounce, legs kick up to the rafters and bodies twirl in dizzying succession, while teased hairdos remain cemented in place. “The Wedding Singer” is cleverly amusing as a zany spoof on the “Me Generation” and visually, it’s a garish treat for the senses.

To bring the show to the next level and broaden its appeal, it will be necessary to add some star power, give the characters of Robbie and Julia more substance and depth and tighten up the overall production (at 2 ½ hours, it’s about 15 minutes too long).