10. Mr. Deeds (2002)
So, modern updates to classic movies don’t always turn out so well. But if you’re still looking for evidence, look no further than Adam Sandler’s remake of Frank Capra’s Comedy Academy Award Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Actually, this movie helped Capra won three Oscars for best director.
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town is sweet, expertly scripted, beautifully paced, and wraps a lot of laughter in a film that also examines America’s perpetual obsession with wealth and celebrity. Adam Sandler’s Mr. Deeds is not. While Sandler’s remake keeps the story of the original story intact, the rest of the film is unrecognizable. Sandler brings the usual routine of man-child into his role of Longfellow Deeds, so the whole enterprise turns into a series of lazy, simplistic humor that undermines entirely the noble ambitions of the original narrative.
