Mr. Deeds (2002)
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22% of critics liked it
(155 reviews) -
68% of users liked it
(674,192 ratings)
One of Frank Capra's best-loved stories gets a modernized and wildly slapstick reinterpretation in this romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler. When Preston Blake (Harve Presnell), a remarkably wealthy media magnate, dies with neither a wife nor children, the question on the lips of most of his… More One of Frank Capra's best-loved stories gets a modernized and wildly slapstick reinterpretation in this romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler. When Preston Blake (Harve Presnell), a remarkably wealthy media magnate, dies with neither a wife nor children, the question on the lips of most of his associates is who will inherit the estate. The surprising answer turns out to be Longfellow Deeds (Adam Sandler), a cheerful but half-bright proprietor of a small-town pizzeria, as well as part-time greeting card poet, who was a distant relative of Blake. In order to claim his 40-billion-dollar inheritance, Deeds heads to New York City, where Blake's former associates, Chuck Cedar (Peter Gallagher) and Cecil Anderson (Erick Avari), introduce him to the city while trying to figure out how to get their hands on his new fortune. Meanwhile, Mac McGrath (Jared Harris), the producer of a sleazy tabloid television show, wants to get the inside scoop on Deeds, and comes up with perfect way to get it: he sends beautiful but unscrupulous reporter Babe Bennett (Winona Ryder) to sweep Deeds off his feet while she's wired for sound. Convincing Deeds that she's from a small town just like himself, Bennett quickly wins his heart, but while his affection is sincere, hers is not. He also displays a curious eagerness to defend her good name with his fists which quickly gets him in trouble. Meanwhile, as Deeds becomes the new laughing stock of New York thanks to Bennett's stories, Deeds decides it's time he did something big with his money, while Cedar and Anderson think they've finally found a way to take control of Deeds' holdings. Mr. Deeds also features supporting performances from John Turturro, Steve Buscemi, and Conchata Ferrell. John McEnroe and Rev. Al Sharpton make cameo appearances as themselves. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Steven Brill
- Written By
- Tim Herlihy
- Genres
- Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jun 28, 2002 Wide
- Studio
- Columbia Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Derek Adams, Time Out
The star and his numbskull cronies piss on Capra's grave with acrid insincerity.
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Michael Atkinson, Village Voice
Let's cut to the consumer-advice bottom line: Stay home.
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Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
It's not just that the movie itself is wicked awful, it's that Mr. Deeds brings out the worst in Adam Sandler.
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Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
There's nothing funny about this.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
The projectors in the theater practically shut down with boredom.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Adam Sandler
as Longfellow Deeds
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Winona Ryder
as Babe Bennett
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Peter Gallagher
as Chuck Cedar
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Jared Harris
as Mac McGrath
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Allen Covert
as Marty
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Erick Avari
as Cecil Anderson
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John Turturro
as Emilio
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Peter Dante
as Murph
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Conchata Ferrell
as Jan
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Harve Presnell
as Preston Blake
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Steve Buscemi
as Crazy Eyes
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Blake Clark
as Buddy Ward
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J.B. Smoove
as Reuben
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John McEnroe
as Himself
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Al Sharpton
as Himself
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Roark Critchlow
as William
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Gideon Jacobs
as Jimmy
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Billy St. John
as George








