Longfellow Deeds: Adam Sandler	Mac: Jared Harris
Pam Dawson: Winona Ryder	Chuck Cedar: Peter Gallager
Emilio: John Turturro	Jan: Conchata Ferrell
Director: Steven Brill

30 Second Bottom Line: An idealistic and wholesome pizza parlor owner from a small town in New Hampshire unexpectedly inherits $40 billion from an uncle he didn't know he had. He sets off for New York in his new company's deluxe helicopter, and is a fish out of water there until he manages to put this greedy world on the right track.

Story Line: Deeds (Adam Sandler) exudes innocence, honesty and a love of his fellow man (in fact he hugs everyone he meets). The folks in his hometown love him. How could they not? He gives free pizza to kids one day a week, and on Mondays the entire town gathers in his pizza place to hear him read his newest greeting card creation. All his endearing rejects from Hallmark are posted on the restaurant wall. With no angst or hidden agendas, Deeds is simply a man with good character and values.

When two slick corporate raider-types arrive at his pizza place to give him the good news-that an uncle of his that he never knew has just died and has left him a media empire worth $40 billion-he seems rather unfazed. Nonchalantly he decides to go with these men to New York and can't help singing into a banana along the way "Ground control to Major Tom" with the helicopter pilots joining in his joyful rendition. He's charismatic with no pretensions and the world of service people falls in love with him.

Once in the opulent world of his uncle's penthouse in New York City he charms the staff and has them all making strange sounds in the massive entry hall, which is so vast, it has an echo. Emilio, his adoring butler (masterfully played by John Turturro) takes care of his every whim.

Meanwhile the corporate guys are on a mission to gain control of the media empire and need Deeds to sign over his stock to them. Deeds may seem like a simpleton, but he's more than they figure him to be and when he falls in love with a New York girl he begins to think about staying in town and getting involved in the company. The bad guys set out to ruin his relationship and make him so miserable and disillusioned that he sells and leaves town for good.

Tell Me More About It: I saw this movie with three 15 year olds, who loved it and laughed like crazy. What's incredible about their joy is that this movie is so clean cut and wholesome any parent in America should be delighted to have a teenager see it. There is some language, but that only inspires Deeds to clobber the fools ignorant enough to use bad language when ladies are present. Mr. Deeds is a delightful break from teen movies full of sex and body function jokes. Deeds' message is that goodness, honesty, doing the right thing and treating people with respect will give a person the best quality life with the greatest rewards. When it's all about money, people lose their ideals and dreams and become unhappy. Not a bad message for anyone these days.

The heroes in this movie are full of compassion, humility and kindness. It's wholesome apple pie yet silly and funny. Does it have flaws? A few, but you will get enough laughs that they'll be easy to overlook.

John Turturro steals the show with his performance as Deeds' Spanish butler, Emilio. Steve Buscemi is one strange dude with rolling, unanchored eyeballs (appropriately called Crazy Eyes), and you just can't help but love Jan, Conchata Ferrell, as the most loyal and loving pizza waitress on earth. Winona Ryder plays the manipulative love interest of Adam Sandler, but unfortunately left me unconvinced of any real chemistry.

Adam Sandler: The Wedding Singer	Steve Buscemi: Ghost World
Winona Ryder: Girl Interrupted	Jared Harris: How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog
John Turturro: Cradle Will Rock	Peter Gallager: American Beauty
Conchata Farrell: K-PAX	Steven Brill: Little Nicky