Despite its low Rotten Tomatoes score, one of Adam Sandler’s movies is climbing the Netflix chart, adding to his list of hits and misses.
Despite his successful forays into more dramatic roles like Uncut Gems and Punch-Drunk Love, the actor remains most recognized for his comedic talents, having produced numerous classics in the ’90s and ’00s.
Despite the passing of time, it is undeniable that Happy Gilmore remains one of the greatest sports films. Additionally, The Wedding Singer and even Little Nicky should not be overlooked.
Despite its memorable cast and crew, one film that is often overlooked is Mr. Deeds, directed by Steven Brill in 2002. In this movie, Sandler plays the lead role as Longfellow Deeds, a humble man from a small town who suddenly inherits a vast fortune and must navigate the complexities of being wealthy, finding love, and facing corporate greed.
Imagine Blank Check and Brewster’s Millions, but with less quality and lacking the same level of sincerity as the 1936 film it was inspired by, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.
Despite earning a low 22% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and a mediocre 59% score from the audience, this hypothesis is widely accepted by many.
Like many easy-watching films featuring well-known actors in the title (such as Sandler and Winona Ryder in this case), Mr. Deeds has found a newfound popularity on Netflix.
Since being released on the streaming service in August, the movie has climbed to ninth place on the top 10 movies chart in the US. Below is the current list of rankings:
- Jack Reacher: Never Go Back
- Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie
- Jack Reacher
- The Emoji Movie
- Trolls Band Together
- White Chicks
- The Cat in the Hat
- The Lorax
- Mr. Deeds
- Inside the Mind of a Dog
According to critics, Roger Ebert stated that while the 2002 film tries to follow in the footsteps of Frank Capra’s original story, it ultimately falls short and disrupts the serious tone with ill-timed attempts at humor.
Time Out was not afraid to express their opinion, declaring that “the main star and his foolish friends disrespectfully mock Capra’s legacy with insincere humor.”That is quite a harsh criticism.
Despite not living up to the original, Mr. Deeds’ critics cannot deny its ability to provide easy escapism, as many reviews have acknowledged.
According to IGN’s review of “Mr. Deeds,”the movie may not be considered a good or decent remake of the classic film by Frank Capra, but it is not entirely bad either.
The feedback from home viewers is a mixture of both positive and negative. On one hand, there are those who share the opinion that “comedy is subjective, but the humor in this is extremely cringe-worthy. It’s filled with ugly and unintelligent jokes, and it also ends in a stupid manner.”
Despite this, one viewer expressed, “I strongly believe that this website is plagued with trolls. I have yet to encounter anyone who did not thoroughly enjoy this film. It embodies the quintessential Sandler style, while also being thought-provoking, heartwarming, and incredibly funny.”
If you want to check it out, Mr. Deeds is currently available on Netflix. Additionally, don’t miss our recommendations for the best sci-fi and action movies.
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