Netflix Adam Sandler Comedy Proves Why He’s The King Of Streaming

Since being cast on Saturday Night Live in 1990, Sandler has enjoyed a meteoric rise from a lovable yet somewhat brash comedian to a bonfire Hollywood superstar worth over $400 million. Thanks in part to his dynamic personality and comedic style, Sandler earned supporting roles in films such as Coneheads and Airheads before landing his first starring role in the 1995 comedy, Billy Madison. The film earned a modest $25 million at the worldwide box office, launching the movie star career of the New York City native.

By the start of the new millennium, Sandler had proven himself to be a certified box office darling, with his last two 90s films, Big Daddy and The Waterboy, combining to earn well over $400 million. In 2002, Sandler was chosen to star in Mr. Deeds, based on the 1936 film Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

The film follows Longfellow Deeds, played by Adam Sandler, a small-town pizzeria owner who also happens to write greeting cards as a side hustle. Deeds is completely content with his modest life in his New Hampshire town until he receives news that he has surprisingly inherited a massive fortune from his late great uncle. Deeds is then flown out to New York City, where he is thrown into an unfamiliar and ultra-wealthy lifestyle.

As Deeds wishes for a sense of normalcy to return to his life, plans are made for him to sell his great uncle’s company, Blake Media, for $40 billion, which he initially rejects in hopes of saving the jobs of thousands of employees. Attempting to get a scoop on the unlikely rags to riches story, tabloid reporter Babe Bennett, played by Winona Ryder, disguises herself in a bid to get close to Deeds. As the two learn more about each other, they begin to fall in love, creating a world of complications when Deeds learns about Babe’s true identity.

But behind the scenes, an insidious and greedy CEO attempts to weasel his way into gaining complete control of Blake Media in the hopes of earning a massive payday. Deeds is then forced to do whatever he can to straighten things out and get back to normal life in his small town.

While Mr. Deeds may not be one of Sandler’s greatest films, I can’t help but admire his restraint in his performance. As noted by his roles in The Waterboy and even Uncut Gems, Sandler has the capability of playing off the walls characters that are as loud as they are destructive, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But in Mr. Deeds, Sandler plays Longfellow in a way that makes him really seem like a small town guy caught up in a game that’s way too big for him to handle.

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There’s an honest charm about Mr. Deeds that I’ve always liked. While it still feels like a classic Adam Sandler movie, it feels a little more down to Earth than some of his more abrasive films. It may not be perfect, but Mr. Deeds certainly makes for an enjoyable watch.