Rich vein of laughs untapped
Mr Deeds

Stars Adam Sandler and Winona Ryder. Columbia TriStar. Rated M. 96 mins

Reviewer :: Ben Caddaye

When pizza parlour owner and all-round nice guy Longfellow Deeds (Sandler) inherits his uncle’s entire $40 billion fortune, he’s forced to leave small-town USA for the Big Apple – and a big payday.

But New York and its masses don’t appeal to the down-to-earth Deeds, even with $40 billion to spend.

He’s just about to leave when undercover reporter Babe (Ryder) enters his life and, although her motives are sinister at first, she quickly falls for the country boy with the fat wallet.

If you’re familiar with Adam Sandler’s work (Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, Billy Madison) then you’ll know what to expect when you sit down to watch Mr Deeds.

While Sandler and Ryder generate more than a few laughs in places, Mr Deeds doesn’t go anywhere near to exploring its full potential.

It is better value than some of the cornball movies Sandler’s been responsible for in the past, such as The Waterboy, which he apparently wanted canned before it even hit the screen. But it’s not a patch on The Wedding Singer and some of his better work.