Mr. Deeds doesn't go to town

Mr. Deeds -- PG-13
Starring: Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder
Directed by: Steven Brill
Showing: Showplace East 12 Mr. Deeds" director Steven Brill made an impact on the comedy world by writing and directing movies like "Little Nicky," "The Mighty Ducks (I, II &III)," "Ready to Rumble" and "Heavyweights." So expecting anything more than crap from this director and a quickly becoming less funny Adam Sandler would be ridiculous. Following a horribly written screenplay, bad direction and bad acting from all involved parties, "Mr. Deeds" pretty much flops in remaking the 1936 Gary Cooper classic "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town." "Deeds" does manage some funny moments, but like Sandler's last three movies, it can't quite conjure up the hilarious comedy of "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore" and "The Wedding Singer." Almost every funny scene in "Deeds" plays in the movie's previews, and most of the funny moments stem from bodily harm (being hit with a tennis ball, a mugger receiving a beating etc.). Sandler and Winona Ryder both stink up the screen with their performances, but much of the stench could be attributed to an even worse screenplay. Saying "wicked" before every adjective doesn't make Sandler sound cool, it makes him sound like a loser. The crap that was "Little Nicky" was only saved through hilarious guest appearances and inside jokes from Sandler's first few movies. "Deeds" tries to do the same, but its inside jokes and guest appearances are from not-funny characters in bad Sandler movies opposed to funny characters from funny Sandler movies like, in "Little Nicky." Adam Sandler is hilarious, but lately his movies seem to concentrate on everything but what makes us laugh at him. Sandler could be a decent actor, but when he really tries to act it's usually in badly written roles with second-rate directors. Hopefully for his sake, and ours, Sandler can find the right combination of humor, writers and directors to bring good movies to the screen.