Adam Sandler has long been a target for the Razzie Awards, famously sweeping every category in 2012 for Jack and Jill. Nearly a decade earlier, in 2003, his film Mr Deeds was nominated for worst remake or sequel. Although it lost to Guy Ritchie's Swept Away, the nomination reflected a dim view of the film's attempt to update the 1936 classic Mr Deeds Goes to Town by Frank Capra. However, Mr Deeds remains an endearing watch, not far removed from Capra's original vision.
A Familiar Formula with Charm
Like many Capra films, which focus on a naive idealist fighting against the system, Sandler's characters in Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and Big Daddy explore class and wealth divisions. Mr Deeds follows the same blueprint: Longfellow Deeds (Sandler) inherits $40 billion and a media empire from a distant relative. He leaves his simple small-town life of pizza delivery and greeting card poetry for New York City, where he faces greedy CEO Chuck Cedar (Peter Gallagher) and tabloid journalists.
The film retains archaic character names. Deeds' first name, Longfellow, is something he tries to keep quiet. The scheming journalist Babe Bennett (Winona Ryder) poses as a damsel in distress named Pam Dawson to get close to Deeds. He falls for her, unaware of her true intentions.
Restrained Performance and Humor
Compared to Sandler's more over-the-top roles, his performance here is restrained and well-intentioned. His optimism clashes with capitalist exploiters. He hugs housekeepers and befriends the butler Emilio (John Turturro). The film balances sentimentality with Sandler's trademark crass humor. In the 1930s version, Deeds slides down a banister; in this version, he crashes into a table. Absurd cameos include John McEnroe jumping over a car and Babe dropkicking a woman through a table.
The film's heart lies in a scene where Pam reads Deeds' cheesy greeting card poetry, capturing genuine movie magic. Its turn-of-the-century sentimentality and clear good-versus-evil dynamic offer a comforting escape. While its themes are simpler than the original, it stands as one of Sandler's most underrated lead roles. He avoids silly voices and brings authentic buffoonery.
In 2003, Sandler also starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love, earning his first Golden Globe nomination. Yet, the primal pleasures of crude comic violence in Mr Deeds remain uniquely satisfying.
