"Mr. Deeds" - Sweet Rom-Com or Cringey Mess? (Adaptation Thoughts!)

Okay, so I finally got around to watching "Mr. Deeds" (2002) again the other night. I know, I know, it's not exactly highbrow cinema LOL. But I remember liking it when it first came out, and I was curious how it holds up. Plus, I knew it was loosely based on the Frank Capra classic "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town" (which I ADORE), so I was kinda going in with some serious adaptation expectations. And… yeah, it's definitely a product of its time. Adam Sandler doing his Adam Sandler thing. Winona Ryder trying her best. There are moments that are genuinely funny, like when Deeds is punching out people who are being jerks to him and Babe Bennett. But overall, it feels a little… forced compared to the original? Like, the sweetness of Gary Cooper's Deeds is replaced with kinda goofy naivete in Sandler's version. I missed the subtle charm! My biggest question is this: does anyone else think the whole Babe Bennett/fake reporter storyline felt kinda icky? Like, she's actively deceiving him the entire time, and then suddenly she's in love with him? It felt rushed and unbelievable. And while I get that they tried to update the story for a modern audience, did they really have to make the villains so cartoonishly evil? I mean, Chuck Cedar was practically twirling his mustache!! So, tell me, am I being too harsh? Did anyone else actually prefer this version? Maybe I’m just too attached to the original. I’m always curious to see what other people think, especially when it comes to remakes and adaptations. Hit me with your opinions! :)