That was an excellent one.

Let's be realistic.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

I was able to watch this on HULU streaming movies.I had seen this years ago and remember that I enjoyed it, so was anxious to see it again. Today the benign tropical storm Cindy passed through so it was a good day to stay inside. While I remembered the broad gist of the story and some funny complications most of it was pretty fresh to me.Michael Keaton is Doug Kinney working for a big building contractor in Los Angeles. He has a wife and two kids, loves his family, but more and more finds that he doesn't have enough time for everything he wants and needs to do. A scientist, a geneticist, observes Doug's frustration at a job side, pulls him aside, and introduces him to his #2. An exact clone, a procedure the geneticist has pretty much perfected over the years.Out of options Doug agrees to have an exact clone made of himself, complete with all memories. This clone has an additional advantage, he is just a bit more assertive and confident than Doug and immediately starts to be more effective on the job.Soon Doug takes on many other activities while his #2 is working the main job but Doug still runs short of time. So he has another clone made. Number 3 is a bit different also, he is more sensitive, more domestic, with some effeminate characteristics. All playing on the idea that, much like making Xerox copies, each one is a bit different from the original.Then the big surprise comes when one of the clones makes a clone of himself and a big deviation occurs, #4 is very goofy and strange in a number of ways, #2 and #3 begin to affectionately call him "Rainman." Andie MacDowell is really good as the wife, Laura. But the main reason to see this is the acting of Keaton. He has to play 4 distinctly different roles and he does it masterfully. SPOILERS: All this causes friction between Doug and Laura, disappointed she moves away for a while, not knowing she had been dealing with 4 different Dougs. In her absence the 4 Dougs do all the home renovations he had promised her, and he wins her back. In the end Doug #1 gives the other three a car and they take off East, ending up in Miami, Laura never finds out about them.

Multiplicity (1996): Dir: Harold Ramis / Cast: Michael Keaton, Andie MacDowell, Harris Yulin, Eugene Levy, Richard Masur: Great concept marred by routine storytelling. It regards our crowded schedules and less time spent on what matters. Michael Keaton plays Doug Kenney who allows a cloning procedure to take place and is soon facing Doug 2. He is shacked up in the garage where everything depends on his wife not finding out. Now she can return to work but once the demands become too much then Doug 3 is brought in. Doug 3's distinction is that he is overly sensitive. This will lead to Doug 4 when a clone decides to clone. This results in a distorted mental stability. Fun concept becomes predictable and unsatisfactory with his wife never knowing even after spending a long night with the clones. Directed by Harold Ramis who has fun with the material but clearly he has made superior comedies such as Caddyshack and National Lampoon's Vacation. Keaton is remarkable as all four clones who each have different personalities, and Andie MacDowell is superb as his wife, bewildered at the odd behaviours of her supposed husband. Flat supporting roles featuring Harris Yulin as the engineer behind the cloning, and Eugene Levy who screws up a paving job in an early scene. Multiple missed opportunities with a theme regarding priority. Score: 6 / 10

We all know the situation, where we have too much to do. We can also imagine the buzz in a family where one person build houses and the other sells it.So the idea of making clones is very good. And when you have a good actor like Michael Keaton - there are potential.However, the film is dumb. The main character talk to a doctor, who miraculously is able to make a clone with perfect memory in matter of hours.From there the film is dumb. A man clone himself, without telling his wife, not even just stupid, but under current rules illegal. He have not specific plan to keep it secret. Just letting his close live in a space the family don't use and let the clone do his work.And of course it goes crazy, as the clones (yes, more than one) cheat on each other and makes a mess of all.Typical "I am so stupid, I do not consider my actions" and have to be sooo funny in the awkward situations that occur.Add a little more brain, make it more believable and please no doctor that do discount on clones of the week - it could have been great.

Okay, so the premise is obviously before it's time, and there isn't too much to the plot. A guy clones himself a few times and problems/hilarity ensues. This movie could've easily gone to the b-movie shelf if not for Michael Keatons above average acting. Of course Andie MacDowell was good as his wife, but Michael Keaton steals the show. It's hard to get bored over the course of the movie because you keep wanting to see what Michael Keatons various personalities are going to do next. The effeminate Doug alone makes the movie worth a watch. My main issue is probably with the editing. I'm sure it's hard to edit one guy being multiple guys (especially in 1996) but a few of the panning shots were kinda choppy. Not a huge deal, but it does take you out of the moment for a second. This movie is probably a 7 out of 10, but giving it an 8 to make up for the undeserved 5.7. I'm pretty picky about my comedies, but this one raised itself above the pack. Consider other comedies from the same year: "Bio-Dome," "House Arrest," "Black Sheep, "Jingle All the Way," "Down Periscope." Out of all of them "Multiplicity" is the only one that I can recommend. If you like Michael Keaton, you can't miss this one. And if for some reason you don't, this movie might change your mind.