Multiplicity (1996)

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

This quirky little gem was directed by Harold Ramis which, at the time, came across like a bright spark in an otherwise dull period. His last success had been the Bill Murray comedy 'Groundhog Day' back 1993, and since then offerings had been a bit limp ('Airheads, 1994). Then you also had the resurgence of Michael Keaton. Now up until this point Keaton had actually been doing very well since his last big outing as Batman in 1992. Films like 'The Paper' and 'My Life' had shown Keaton could be a very good serious actor, he didn't need the Bat to help him out it seemed. Nevertheless Keaton hadn't made a good comedy since 1989 in 'The Dream Team', so could he still deliver?Upon a first glance this looked like another weak comedy, even worse...a romantic comedy! I recall seeing trailers in cinema back in the day and completely brushing it aside as soppy trash. Yet the plot to this gooey nonsense is actually pretty solid. A busy construction worker is finding it hard to juggle his work with his personal life, he's suffering from stress and taking it out on the wrong people. On one of his jobs at a science facility Doug (Keaton) stumbles across Dr. Leeds (Harris Yulin)...and his clone. Yes this scientist has perfected the art of cloning humans it seems and offers Doug the chance to clone himself so he can sort his life out. The idea being there will be two Doug's, one for work and one for family. After a few hiccups everything goes swimmingly and before you know it, Doug gets another clone to help out around the house. Its obvious where this is headed, eventually one of the clones gets a clone and before you know it Doug's life is getting a bit hectic again. Can he now juggle his work, family and three clones?So as I said the idea behind this is actually really neat. It makes you think, wouldn't it be cool to have a clone of yourself that you could send to work so you could bum around. Indeed the movie actually doesn't offer up any negative aspects of this idea, it generally works out pretty well for the protagonist. You half expect one clone to turn out all psychotic or something and Doug needing to vaporise him or whatever. But no it doesn't go down that dramatic route, instead each clone takes on one of Doug's traits. One is more of a mans man, one has Doug's feminine side and one is like a young child...and a bit simple.This allows Keaton to showcase his comedic skills with different performances for each clone, and it works nicely. Clone one (Lance) is a great foil to Doug with his brash masculinity, lack of tact and slobby habits. Clone two (Rico) is very amusing with his soft over sensitive nature, complete knowledge in and around the kitchen and his sharp dress sense. Lastly clone three (Lenny) is the least funny to be honest as he merely does stupid slapstick type things and acts like a child. To be brutally honest I don't even think the movie needed this character, should have gone with a different trait if you ask me. If you removed clone three it wouldn't really make any difference.Looking back the special effects now are laughably poor I'm afraid, although not always. Seeing as there are four Keaton's you can imagine there's gonna be a lot of greenscreen and split-screen here. Again as you can imagine this being a 1996 flick most of these effects, now, do look ropy. There are some terribly obvious stark black lines around Keaton in some scenes with other clones, not only that but there is also really obvious light issues between the characters (presumably greenscreen effects). Not all look that bad, some scenes look quite good where shots have been digitally layered together or when Keaton has obviously interacted with a stand-in and then they replaced that with another Keaton character. All the clones in the car at the end, Doug pouring Lenny some Coke, all the clones on the couch in the living room, all great looking effects scenes.Obviously there are always gonna be questions and nitpicks because that's what I do. The house that Doug and his family live in is YUGE! I know this guy is a team leader in construction and I know Americans do live in big houses compared to us here in the UK, but Jesus! This place even has a second small house at the bottom of the garden! Is that an the American version of a shed or something?? Then you have Dr. Leeds and his cloning lab. How is this guy not world famous by now with his human cloning? Surely perfecting this kind of scientific breakthrough would be big news. Yes this movie is horribly dated now, which is really scary for me because as said I remember seeing the trailers in the cinema. Keaton is a great comedic lead but boy does he look out of date and so very 90's in this (no sh*t!). The way he dresses is sooo 90's its lovely, its like watching 'Friends' again. The overall comedy is very agreeable in general. At times wickedly good, at times hit and a miss, at times cringeworthy and over the top. Andie MacDowell plays Doug's wife which is one let down because she's so flippin' useless in my opinion, all teeth and nose. But I do love this movies premise, its clever and presents great opportunities for witty visual comedy (just like 'Groundhog Day'). In general this is a great little flick that suited Ramis to a tee. It offers some genuine laughs and a nice easy-going, laid-back experience. Comfy viewing.7/10

Doug Kinney (Michael Keaton) is a construction supervisor. His underling Vic (Eugene Levy) screws up again leaving him with more work. He's getting pushed to work his days off. His wife Laura (Andie MacDowell) would like to go back to work but there isn't enough time for the kids already. The latest job is at the Gemini Institute which does cloning. Dr. Leeds (Harris Yulin) may have just the solution.Keaton really puts me off his character when he gets angry at his wife early in the movie. It is quite jarring. It's more than simply not liking the character. It's also not funny. Maybe Harold Ramis figured that one Keaton is funny and two is twice as funny. Therefore it's more the merrier. It's not.

Doug is having a hard time getting everything done. He is being pressured to do more at the construction business he works for, as well as by his wife Laura who wants him to spend time with children Zack and Jennifer. Laura wants to return to her career, as a woman she started out with has been promoted and wants Laura to replace her. But he may have the solution: one of the residents of a development he is supervising has perfected cloning. In fact, it was his clone who signed a deal with Doug's company.So Doug decides to go for it. A second Doug is created, with all his memories. Problem solved! He just has to hide the second Doug in the guest house. The second Doug will go to work while original Doug spends time with the family and takes time for himself--playing golf, for example.You know where this is going. One clone can't do it all. So another one is needed. And possibly another. And each one creates its own kind of chaos. For example, one Doug can make Laura happy (no, not that way, although ...) at home better than original Doug can. And, unfortunately, it's not all funny. That's fine, because there are lessons to be learned and the lead actors are so good I'm willing to see them do anything.Michael Keaton does a very good job playing four distinct characters: Steve (original Doug), Lance (the first clone, a macho pig), Rico (the sensitive and effeminate second clone), and Lenny (because he is a copy of a copy, he is "special").Andie MacDowell is very funny in a series of scenes that begins with her in a sexy nightie and ends with her in just a pajama top.When more than one Doug is on screen, it really looks as if both or all are there. I wasn't distracted by trying to figure out how they did it. I have a small TV, though. It's a hilarious and rewarding effort.

This is one of those films that maybe the first time you watch it, you just think, "eh." But on subsequent viewings you realize how funny it is and the absolutely great characters & how well developed each one of the Michael Keaton's are. He does an amazing job & this film was completely overlooked by just about everyone. Granted the plot is nothing to write home about, but neither is "Dumb & Dumbers" but that isn't why it is remembered. It's for all the hilarity that ensues just as this one does. I'm hoping that someday people will realize just how funny Michael Keaton can be in film & that he wasn't just BATMAN! A new generation will soon come to see everything that is classically done & some filmmaker will stick Mr. Keaton in another comedic role so that they can see just how well he can shine as a comedian. Here's hoping it's soon too! So if you liked "Old School, Napoleon Dynamite, & yes even "The Hangover" (though it's far less dirty) then this is right up your alley.