MR DEEDS
US, 2002, 96 minutes, Colour.
Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, John Turturro, Alan Covert, Peter Gallagher, Jarrod Harris, Peter Dante, Conchata Ferrell, Harve Presnell, Steve Buscemi, John Mc Enroe.
Directed by Steven Brill.
Adam Sandler is no Gary Cooper, but that does not mean that he is not entitled to portray Mr Deeds on the screen and give it a modern slant. However, many of the critics (who may or may not have seen the 1936 Mr Deeds Goes to Town) were eager to declare it one of the worst films of the year. On the other hand, it did surprisingly well at the US box office.
It is a good natured film (though I wish that Sandler's Mr Deeds could have restrained his fisticuff compulsions and I could have done without his terrible Hallmark verses) with its heart in the right place. It is intended to be a light message comedy to please the widest audience. And that is what it does. Not so much a Sandler fanl, I was pleasantly entertained by his ingenuous character, a pizza restaurant owner who is kind to everyone and who inherits billions but is not interested in the money.
Sandler has also drawn a strong supporting cast with Winona Ryder the pushy journalist intent on exposing Deeds, Peter Gallagher as a sleazy tycoon who would be at home in Enron, John Turturro as the butler who can suddenly appear at will. Director, Steve Brill, has worked on most of Adam Sandler's films.
Mr Deeds is an old-fashioned American liberal film released at a time when public opinion is not liberal but is still anti corporate greed and likes a sincere hero.
1. The status of the original? The remake not threatening it? A light variation on the theme?
2. Audiences and their appreciation of the original? The story of a good man, an innocent, doing good versus the corporations? Finding true love?
3. Mandrake Falls, the American country town, the pizza parlour? The contrast with New York City, offices, companies, the look of the city, style? The songs?
4. America in the 21st century, sentiment, preaching, optimism – a film of 2002, made during the time of 9/11?
5. The opening with Blake Preston, climbing, the tycoon, his demands on his staff, Everest, dying, the flag, the photo? His being seen later in the coffin and Deeds trying to present him to the mourners? His diary, the self-made man, his company, just to his employees, Emilio as his son?
6. Chuck and Cecil? Executives, the situation at Preston’s death, their discussions, the issue of shares, the plan for the future, dividing the company? The effort to discover Deeds? Their visit to Mandrake Falls? Plausible – heightened? Meeting the people, the return to New York, singing in the helicopter, the press conference, the photos? Deeds settling into the house? His simple response?
7. Deeds and the pizza parlour, his greeting cards and their quality/not? His range of friends, Jan and her tough attitude, Murph and his calling in sick, the touch of the conman? Crazy Eyes and his being in jail? His friendship and philosophy? The flight, the pilots and the song in the plane? The staff in the house, Emilio and the others, testing out the echo? Emilio and his appearing and disappearing? His fondness for feet and socks? Deeds easy to work with? His frozen foot – and getting Emilio to stamp on it and put the pick in it?
8. Mac and the parody of Rupert Murdoch? The TV programs? Babe as the star reporter? Mac and his editing her material? Marty and his eye for a story? In disguise at the airport, listening in to the conversation? Informing Babe? His infatuation with Babe, proposals? Babe becoming Pam Dawson, the elaborate plan of her being mugged, Deeds and his fight with Marty, injuring him? Taking Pam to the meal, the New York aristocracy and their initial friendship, laughing at him and his manners, his punching them out? It all being filmed by Babe? Edited by Mac? Their plans? Mac and his wanting to bring Deeds down?
9. The second night out, the fire, Deeds and the background of Mandrake Falls Fire Brigade, climbing up the building, rescuing the cats and the comedy of tossing them out and their bouncing and being caught? The material as edited maliciously by Mac?
10. Babe, the experience with Deeds, changing her attitude, explaining things to Mac?
11. Her Iowa story, Deeds taking her to Iowa, her having to improvise around the town? The situations and her being able to get out of them, especially with the choking boy? Her debate whether to tell Deeds the truth or not?
12. Madison Square Garden, Deeds setting up the whole area for the proposal, the table, the meals? Chuck and his deal with Mac? Broadcasting the news item – and exposing Babe and her two-timing Deeds?
13. Chuck, his managing the company, the French guests, the football star – and Deeds punching him to teach him some manners, not to swear, and talking with his father on the phone? His ringing again to renew his contract?
14. Emilio, as the butler, appearing and disappearing, his accent? His story? His passion for feet? His friendship with Deeds?
15. Deeds and the disappointment, Babe and her lies? His decision to return to Mandrake Falls? Welcomed back by all his friends?
16. Chuck, the shareholders’ meeting, his having the upper hand, his speech, wanting a vote? Deeds turning up, having one vote, the emotional nature of his speech, people having dreams, not fulfilling them, the audience responding to this? Babe and her arrival, the information, reading the diary, the discovery of Emilio as Blake Preston’s son? Therefore his heir?
17. Emilio, becoming the owner of the companies, the confrontation with Chuck, his being ousted? Deeds allowing Cecil to stay? Cecil and his better nature, enjoying Deeds’ company?
18. Babe and Deeds, the reconciliation, Emilio persuading him to take one billion dollars? Back at Mandrake Falls? The pizza? The card and Hallmark accepting his verse? The friends (even Jan, after her fight with Babe, and her wishing she were a man)? Crazy Eyes and his driving and crashing the cars?
19. The American blend of schmaltz and earnestness?
