Mr. Deeds

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Mr. Deeds ★½ 2002 (PG-13)

With more chutzpah than money (and he's got $40 billion), Sandler plays the must miss Deeds of this joyless remake's title. Longfellow Deeds is an owner of a New Hampshire pizza joint and aspiring greeting card poet (gag) before learning of a multi-billion dollar inheritance that gives him control of a mammoth media company. Gallagher is the slimy CEO who secretly wants hayseed Deeds to disappear back to the boonies, while Ryder is tabloid reporter/love interest Babe Bennett, out to dupe man-child Deeds for a sensational story. Turturro, as Deeds' sneaky butler is the sole comic relief, while Buscemi does his best Marty Feldman to no avail. Paired with the much-better-by-comparison “Little Nicky,” Sandler's schtick is wearing thin. 97m/C VHS, DVD . US Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, John Turturro, Peter Gallagher, Steve Buscemi, Jared Harris, Allen Covert, Erik Avari, Peter Dante, Conchata Ferrell, Harve Presnell, Blake Clark, JB Smoove, Rob Schneider; Cameos: John McEnroe; D: Steven Brill; W: Tim Herlihy; C: Peter Lyons Collister; M: Teddy Castellucci.