Duplex (2003)

Director:

Danny DeVito

Writer (WGA):

Larry Doyle (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Alex and Nancy finally found their dream home...And then they moved in.

Plot:

A young couple has a chance to move into a gorgeous duplex in the perfect New York neighborhood. All they have to do is bump off the current tenant, a cute little old lady.

Plot Keywords:

Tenant | Duplex | Television | Writer | Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Ben Stiller	...	Alex Rose
Drew Barrymore	...	Nancy Kendricks
Eileen Essell	...	Mrs. Connelly
Harvey Fierstein	...	Kenneth
Justin Theroux	...	Coop
James Remar	...	Chick
Robert Wisdom	...	Officer Dan
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Jean
Wallace Shawn	...	Herman
Maya Rudolph	...	Tara
Amber Valletta	...	Celine
Cheryl Klein	...	Ginger
Tim Maculan	...	Terrence
Jackie Sandler	...	Bartender (as Jackie Titone)
Yevgeni Lazarev	...	Mr. Dzerzhinsky (as Eugene Lazarev)

Also Known As:

Der Appartement-Schreck (Germany)
Our House (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and some violence.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #40220) | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Netherlands:6 | UK:12 (tv rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:IIA | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Greg Mottola (director of Superbad and Adventureland) was once attached to direct this film, according to Peter Biskind's book "Down and Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance, and the Rise of Independent Film."

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When the woman at the housewarming party says "I got an award for this one" she clearly doesn't say "one".

Quotes:

Nancy Kendricks: Mrs. Connelly, let me come right to the point. Alex and I are trying to have a baby.
Mrs. Connelly: [whispers] I saw. In the living room.
Nancy Kendricks: Right. The thing is that when we do have our baby, we're gonna need the upstairs.
Mrs. Connelly: I don't understand dear.
Alex Rose: We're willing to pay you... something.
Mrs. Connelly: You want me to leave?
Alex Rose: Don't you think you'd be more comfortable with people who are more in your... demographic?
Nancy Kendricks: In sunny Miami Beach!
Mrs. Connelly: I'm Irish. I'd sizzle up like a sausage. Besides, this is my home.
Alex Rose: Home? The Emerald Isle! Back to the old sod!
[...]

Movie Connections:

References The Hobbit (1977) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Allegro - L'Estro Armonico Op.3: Concerto No. 2 in G Minor

A pleasant surprise

Put this on last night not know anything about it and was pleasantly surprised. The plot was interesting and finished with a nice twist. Stiller and Barrymore worked well together and had a good chemistry, and it was a nice surprise to watch a comedy without too many attempts at silly slapstick.

There are very few laugh out loud moments, but I was smiling on a number of occasions. Definitely reminds me of War of the Roses, which is no bad thing, and the leads play it very well.

I liked the ending too, although I would have gone absolutely mental if I was them. Not what I was expecting at all. Anyone expecting the regular Ben Stiller comedy like Dodgeball will be disappointed but if you approach this with an open mind, you should be OK.

Overall, quite good and a well earned 7 out of ten from me.