’s unprecedented success in movies was not without its humble beginnings. The Brooklyn-born comedian, alongside the legendary , made up a major part of ’s "bad boy" period in the early ‘90s, as their brand of raunchy humor perfectly translated to a Generation X audience. Their standout characters on the long-running sketch comedy show would make them the highlights of the underrated ‘90s comedy .

Sandler was just scratching the surface of his winning formula for the big screen when he teamed with future Oscar winner and’ in the -style satire directed by (, ). The SNL star’s role as the socially inept drummer served as the perfect comic relief next to Fraser’s struggling heartthrob lead singer Chazz and Buscemi‘s short-fused bassist. Though Airheads did not find an audience at the time of release, .

Airheads follows the aspiring Los Angeles garage band trio “The Long Rangers,” who can’t seem to catch a break in the music business. Motivated by his sudden breakup from his girlfriend (), the group’s lead singer Chazz (Fraser) plots with bandmates Pip (Sandler) and Rex (Buscemi) to break into a local radio station with realistic-looking water pistols to force DJ Ian "The Shark" () to play their reel-to-reel demo tape. Plans go south when the tape malfunctions just as the LAPD surrounds the studio.

Part of the reason for Airheads’ odd enduring legacy is the fact that . In addition to Farley’s role as an anxious cop outside the studio, the film is loaded with cameos from MTV-related pop culture icons, including , , and , who voiced during a scene where the animated slackers call into the station. It satirizes the media sensationalism of the time as well as pokes fun at another Fox hit, , with playing a frightened station employee trapped inside the ventilation system.

As odd as the combination of Sandler, Fraser, and Buscemi sounds on paper, the chemistry they display on screen comes across as if they have all been lifelong friends. Fraser had already proven his comedic chops with and plays as close to a straight man as Airheads allows him to with his touching romantic subplot to win back his girlfriend through the chaos. But the sibling-like dynamic between Sandler and Buscemi stands out even more with Sandler would later cast him in supporting roles and cameos in everything from to .

Airheads was not just Sandler’s first major supporting role in a movie, but it also . Pip and The Lone Rangers share the same scrappy underdog ambition as and . Each of them are outsiders constantly looked down upon until their unique talents win over the public (and even the girls) at large. Much like , some of the hostages eventually take a liking to the band’s sympathetic goals, especially Suzzi (), who becomes increasingly attracted to Pip’s innocent nature. Then there are arrogant villains like as the uptight station manager looking for a way out that resembles future Sandler movie antagonists like Happy Gilmore’s Shooter McGavin.

Even with an all-star cast lighting up the screen with the likes of Farley, Buscemi, Richards, and Mantegna, director. Though not as animated as Sandler’s later roles, Pip has a spark and a charm that is a good counterbalance to Chazz’s pride and Rex’s snappy attitude. Whether it’s Rex trying to get Pip to talk tough with a water gun or engaging with a Black hostage about being sympathetic to the prejudice they face, Sandler’s down-to-earth personality is ultimately a key factor that elevated his star status in Hollywood.

Airheads is the kind of check-your-brain-out-the-door comedy that works as a companion piece to slacker generation titles like the Bill & Ted franchise and . It showed early promise for Sandler’s career as well as expanded on Fraser’s versatility as an actor beyond his dramatic work. Even after 30 years since it bombed in theaters, it continues to be a joyful memory of such a radically different time.