Release Date:
Friday, June 28, 2002
With The Waterboy, Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, and Happy Gilmore, former-SNLer Adam Sandler and his cohorts developed a never-miss formula for funnyfilm success (Little Nicky aside). Mr. Deeds doles out more of the same with Sandler in the title role and Winona Ryder, as TV producer Babe Bennett, stretching to hang with the goofballs. While the formula doesnt always ensure continuous laughs, the humor spikes are consistent with a Sandler hitin short, youre gonna dig it.
Based on the Frank Capradirected 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (which starred Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur), this Sandler-posse interpretation again dunks a small town guy into the shark-infested big city tank. Deeds, here a pizza parlor owner, inherits billions and must contend with a cadre of slimy fortune seekers and Ryders story-hungry reporter. Not enough good can be said about John Turturros performance as Deeds butlera movie about his character alone would be worth the price of admission. (Watch closely for his very sneaky appearances, especially the olé bit.) And forgive Winona her awkwardness in this strange new worldthe formula here doesnt suit her quite as well as her wardrobe.
Based on the Frank Capradirected 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town (which starred Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur), this Sandler-posse interpretation again dunks a small town guy into the shark-infested big city tank. Deeds, here a pizza parlor owner, inherits billions and must contend with a cadre of slimy fortune seekers and Ryders story-hungry reporter. Not enough good can be said about John Turturros performance as Deeds butlera movie about his character alone would be worth the price of admission. (Watch closely for his very sneaky appearances, especially the olé bit.) And forgive Winona her awkwardness in this strange new worldthe formula here doesnt suit her quite as well as her wardrobe.