Herra Deeds

This pleasant rom-com is clearly dominated by Adam Sandler's boorish style of comedy, which makes me happy to turn a blind eye to the classic ending full of clichés; and for the heap of effective humour, the more than likeable Winona Ryder and that pleasant hour and a half I give it a full rating... With hindsight I'm taking away a star, five-star films look different after all. (15.07.2011)

It exhibits the primary and secondary sexual characteristics of Sandler’s comedic farces, including various degrees of dumbed-down childishness (from the lower levels, like testing a necrotized foot with a poker, to the highest, like Buscemi’s squinting eyeballs). The actor playing the good-hearted simpleton who came into money once again fades a bit into the shadow of his colleagues, who have the talent for comedy in their blood and are well-known for excelling in dramatic roles as well (I’m hereby placing the sneaky Puerto Rican Turturro alongside James Woods). (07.11.2022)

Adam Sandler is moderately entertaining in this film. Still, it's evident that this role was meant to be approached a bit differently. He still plays a redneck, but he's not as overtly dumb, and he doesn't overdo the antics too much either. An interesting aspect is the fact that it's not him who has something to rectify, but this responsibility is transferred to someone else. Great characters, especially those portrayed by Torturro or Buscemi. (26.06.2014)

I haven't seen the original film from the 1930s, but it certainly doesn't has as many bizarre characters as this early millennium adaptation. Mr. Deeds both stands and falls on those characters and the situations they get themselves into. Most of the inhabitants of Deeds's little town – except perhaps for Conchata Ferrell's spunky and buxom pizzeria helper – were more or less out of place; the New York cast wasn't much better – though I enjoyed John Turturro's "master of appearing and disappearing" Emilio. The main character's good-naturedness with the universally tolerable Adam Sandler seemed shoddy in places, perhaps similar to Winona Ryder's confused meanness, but their relationship felt quite endearing nonetheless. Either way, this obscure vibe that Brill's film is brimming with is the main reason I return to Mr. Deeds every once in a while. (07.12.2023)

A wonderful Sandler flick that manages to squeeze everything possible from the dime-a-dozen story. Plus we get the gorgeous Winona Ryder and excellent cameos from John Turturro and Steve Buscemi + a great story about Stephen King. And the twist at the end is totally unexpected. :-) (30.03.2008)