Multiplicity (1996)

An inevitable idea: a working man (Michael Keaton) who can't meet all his professional and family responsibilities has himself cloned. It works so well having one copy of himself to take charge of matters at the office that he makes another copy who takes care of the home front. Pretty soon, different aspects of Keaton's personality are emphasized in the different clones: the laborer becomes a macho creep and the domestic god becomes rather feminine. A third clone, struck from the duplicates instead of the original, becomes like a photocopy of a photocopy: inferior. This timely comedy should be better than it is, but special-effects requirements are so labor-intensive that most scenes feel stiff and leaden. Keaton is good in all four parts, and in certain gee-whiz effects scenes, where he even high-fives himself, he pulls off a minor miracle or two. (Of course, a kid did the same thing in Disney's 1998 remake of The Parent Trap.) The DVD release includes optional widescreen and standard formats and optional French and Spanish soundtracks. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com essential video

Just pretty bad as a comedy goes?

Strange low budget Sci Fi comedy that when it isn't predictable is somewhat boring. The cloning is a joke from a bad B movie.
In one of the starting scenes Keaton's make up is bad and he
kooks like he has a bad skin disease? Keaton's acting is good on the four distinct personalities, but the dialog doesn't make use of the comedy situations. MacDowell mainly does sexy and reads her lines.
These two deserve a better written comedy that has more believable action and dialog. My conclusion is that it was a production line movie with bad oversight and quality control: a Hollywood screw up. January 7, 2009

where has Keaton gone?

Very funny. A family man clones himself to have more time. But it's never enough. Keaton made some great comedies back in the day. I miss Andie MacDowell too. There is quite a bit of sexuality in this one. November 28, 2008

A rather insipid take on a somewhat engaging subject...

Michael Keaton is somewhat of an acquired taste. He is funny sometimes, even outright hysterical (take `Beetlejuice' for instance) but other times he just wares on my patience. `Multiplicity' is one of those films that works in parts, but not entirely, and that is mostly due to Keaton's uneven performance. Well, and the fact that Andie MacDowell didn't have any strong direction to squeeze goodness out of her.

The script is also rather ridiculous, but I think we expect that from a film like this.

Keaton plays Doug Kinney, a construction worker who has a wife and two kids and absolutely no time to spend with them. His wife wants to go back to work but there is just no way that Doug can fit it into his schedule to help out around the house. That is until this Dr. confronts him about cloning. Doug is apposed and then all for it and before you know it there is another Doug (called #2) who is living above the garage. Now Doug can spend time with his kids while #2 goes to work. Then Doug realizes that he is so busy at home he has no time for himself and so we get #3, the sensitive stay at home Doug who takes care of the house and the children while Doug is playing golf. But when things get too much for #2 and #3 to handle they take it upon themselves to bring home #4 and it's about then that everything starts to fall apart.

The film could have had a better outcome had the premise been treated with a little more respect. Instead, director Harold Ramis and writer Chris Miller went for the slapstick, easy gags. The film is rather brainless.

Michael Keaton is pretty good as Doug, and I liked the way he played off the sensitive side of #3, but his take on #2 was kind of obnoxious and his mimicry of Steve Martin's hilarious turn in `Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' was rather unnecessary and ridiculous (notice how #4 refers to everyone as Steve...not a coincidence I guaranty you). Andie MacDowell, as I have mentioned before, is usually boring and dull. In fact, it takes a really strong and influential director to bring out the good in her (great in her is you take into account her work with Altman and Soderbergh) and Ramis is not a strong director.

In other words; she's dreadful here.

The film has its funny moments but the lack of natural charm and any real comedic weight make this film more of a dud than a hit. I wish that I could say something better for the film. My wife loves it. I on the other hand do not. I give it a low C. November 20, 2008

Michael Keaton at his best

Michael Keaton and Andie MacDowell fit together perfectly in this film about cloning yourself to meet the demands of your life. Unbelievable photography enables you to visualize the "clones" altogether in certain scenes and amazing variances in Keaton's character portrails really cause you to jump right into the story. Great love story and truly rare humor easily make this a keeper and a 5 star rating. October 17, 2008

One of the funniest movies ever!!!!!!!

I love this movie, it's funny on so many different levels. You are sure to laugh every 3-5 mins!! September 26, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...