Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-18 23:00:23

It's okay, some funny moments, but not great

I've become a Ben Stiller fan after seeing him in There's Something about Mary. He is funny, and I like Drew Berrymore. I thought this movie would be a lot funnier. The movie is about a husband and wife looking for their home and inheriting a neighbor that is a pain!!! She is an elderly lady who has to count everything, and has a little mean streak. The couple try to devise ways of getting her to move out and all their plans backfire. I'm not one for movie extras so I could really care less about that, but the movie was okay.

Frapples 2012-05-18 09:22:47

Hmm

This movie was borderline awful. The old lady was played very well and I honestly can say I didn't see the ending coming but still, pretty bad.

mario_c 2012-05-16 12:07:49

What wonderful old lady!

After get married ALEX ROSE (Ben Stiller) and NANCY KENDRICKS (DrewBarrymore) like any couple decide to buy a house for living together.They choose a duplex apartment in Brooklyn with an uncommon detail. Inthe upstairs lives an Irish sympathetic old lady... This nice andharmless lady will turn their lives into a living Hell! That's one more funny and entertaining comedy starred by Ben Stiller.Like in other recent movies he does the main role very well, butthere're also very nice performances by Drew Barrymore and the oldlady, Eileen Essell, MRS. CONNELLY in the movie.DUPLEX is a nice comedy with an entertaining plot and some good laughs,most of them because of Stiller's character (but MRS. CONNELLYcharacter is very funny too). I remember for instance that flu scene,so hilarious and stupid at the same time! There're plenty of funnysituations; some subtle and intelligent, other stupid and hilarious.

2012-05-16 05:13:02

not tairabley bad

duplex was a romantic comedy with ben stiller and drew barrymorewhen they think they have a perfect house they find out that a little old lady lives upstars.this littel lady turns out to be evil and tries to kill them. this movie was ok but i thought it would be vary funny.but it turned out to be not that funny.but it was still a preaty good movie.you should defintly rent this before you buy it.

Caboom 2012-05-05 18:57:30

I don't think I've seen seen a film quite so irritating.

I usually like Ben Stiller movies and the beginning was promising. Howeverafter a while it just started annoying me to the point where I almoststopped watching the movie. I did finish the movie, hoping it would bringsome sort of satisfaction in the end, but it never did. The final twistmaybe removed some of the irritation but it was too late, at least forme.I wouldn't really recommend this for anyone. If you're gonna watch it,makesure you've got some patience or it'll drive you nuts. Besides being justplain boring at times, it also doesn't deliver the normal laughs I expectfrom comedies. That's all I've got to say about this one, wasted too muchofmy time already.

Victor Field 2012-05-05 04:31:20

Drew Barrymore's biggest blunder since she said "I do" to Tom Green.

For the UK, Miramax changed the title of "Duplex" to "Our House" because theterm is about as widely known in Britain as Madness is in America(thankfully the song of the same (British) title that the group did wasn'tstuck on the UK prints); the thing is, it's actually the movie that needschanging. I love Drew Barrymore to death, but even she can't make this blackcomedy any better; uncharacteristically weak, neither she nor Ben Stillernor any of the other cast members inexplicably involved with this clumsyfarce (Harvey Fierstein, Eileen Eissel, James Remar, etc) make it aworthwhile addition to Danny DeVito's directorial CV - which is thematicallysimilar to his "Throw Momma From The Train," except that was actually funny. Some would argue that Larry Doyle's script was on a hiding to nothing whenit posited that our heroes (a mid-level author and his designer girlfriend)would be the landlords of a duplex apartment with the only other tenantbeing a 90-plus Irish woman who can't be removed legally, but the womansucceeds in getting us to hate her as much as the couple does. But as wellas making you wonder why they don't try to kill her sooner than they do,"Duplex" also goes too far in every direction from slapstick to plotting -the movie becomes less funny and more unbelievable as it progresses, withplot points telegraphed so far in advance they may as well have been writtenon the poster, and a final scene that's particularly hard not toforesee.I'd be lying if I said there weren't a few laughs to be had (and I agreewith the guy who pointed out Drew's appearance in a see-through shirt at onepoint), but all in all "Duplex" comes across as a bad TV movie that somehowgot upgraded to a cinema feature; every time the Irish woman's TV startedshowing "Hawaii Five-O," I begged to be watching that instead. I'm not surewhether the lowpoint isa) The scene with the doctor grabbing Ben Stiller's crotch after he's beenshot in it (don't ask) and the soundtrack popping up with "Sexual Healing",orb) The sight of Drew Barrymore vomiting down a drain on Ben Stiller's face(really, don't ask).But I am sure that with "Titan A.E." Drew had the safety net of not actuallybeing on screen.

tfrizzell 2012-04-26 20:23:49

Low Rent Real Estate.

Awful little comedy by director Danny DeVito (who makes films the way asilly 12-year-old boy would) has two New Yorkers (Ben Stiller and DrewBarrymore) moving into a great new apartment. The only catch is thatthey have a tenant upstairs (annoying old lady Eileen Essel). She seemscute and harmless, but soon she becomes a bother and the duo haveaspirations of killing her after they realize there is no way to makeher leave. Harvey Fierstein chews up time as a sneaky real estate manand Robert Wisdom comes and goes throughout as a local beat cop. Thereis no real substance here. The movie ends up being a "Home Alone"hybrid with Essel in the Macaulay Culkin role and Stiller/Barrymoredoing their best Joe Pesci/Daniel Stern imitations. The movie neverdoes get off the ground and ends up sinking to the cinematic basement.2 stars out of 5.

writers_reign 2012-04-26 12:29:33

Thugee For Two

Though it's only six years old I don't recall this being released inEngland or it it was I certainly didn't hear of it. It was screened inthe just-before-midnight slot on television last night so I figured I'dwatch the first couple of reels and then switch channels. In the eventI watched it right through. The plot was not exactly new-minted and Ican take or leave the two leads but while it was far from unforgettableit was interesting enough to entertain for one viewing. It's quitepossible that the Production team had seen Tatie Danielle andcommissioned an English-speaking semi rip-off but there's nothing toomuch wrong with that, a good four-fifths of the Multiplex audienceseldom if ever watch anything with subtitles so it is, in effect, awhole new audience. Most of the gags work, the performances are up tosnuff and ultimately it's fairly painless.

Steve Gough 2012-04-24 23:51:03

Disappointing chuckle-free Ben Stiller vehicle

I could be wrong, but I think this went straight to video here in theUK, and on last night's DVD viewing I can see why.Don't get me wrong, I like Ben Stiller. Ahead of most of his one-trickpony peers, at least he's a three trick pony. Sadly this is one of his"Gaye Fokker" movies, the meek worm who turns but screws it up. Switchto Zoolander mode, say in Dodgeball, or Mr Furious, as revisited inStarky and Hutch, and he's a real family favourite. Sadly as the endcredits of Duplex (released in the UK as "Our House") rolled, theentire cross-section of the family went "Huh?". We'll never get thathour and a half back, but at least we'll never have to watch it again.This is "black" comedy, so there are no jokes. You root for Ben andmovie wife Drew only because they're less hateful than the crone whomakes their lives hell.The single rewarding feature of this movie was a rare appearance byunder-rated supporting player James Remar, who really deserved a bettercareer.Maybe instead of titles Ben could start numbering his movies, so likeStar Trek ones we'd know the odd numbers are gong to be thedisappointments.

Jackson Booth-Millard 2012-04-24 16:34:16

Duplex

On one poster in Britain the alternative title for this film was OurHouse, but the original title makes more sense, and I gave it a try,from director Danny DeVito (Throw Momma from the Train). Basicallyyoung couple Alex Rose (Ben Stiller) and Nancy Kendricks (Razzienominated Drew Barrymore) are in search of their dream home, and theyfind a duplex in Brooklyn. They do have to wait though to have thewhole place to themselves, because staying on the rent-controlled topfloor is tenant, Irish and elderly Mrs. Connelly (Charlie and theChocolate Factory's Eileen Essell). From day one it is obvious she isgoing to be a tough person to get rid of, they try to deal with loudtelevisions and noisy brass band visitors, and they ask her nicely toleave, but she refuses. Alex is attempting to finish his new bookbefore a deadline, and his is constantly distracted by Mrs. Connelly'sirritating requests like moving, carrying and fixing stuff. After Nancyand eventually Alex have both lost their jobs, they only have oneperson to blame for all the intolerance and nightmarish chaos, Mrs.Connelly, and they are resorting of harsh ways to get rid of her. Theytry weakening the above floor, trying to cause a heart attack, andhiring a man to kill her somehow, until eventually they rescue her froma fire. In the end, they have no choice but to move out and findanother house, but saying goodbye to Mrs. Connelly, they find her dead,although this was her and son Kenneth (Harvey Fierstein), the estateagent, faking it to get money or whatever, whether they got the duplexback is for the audience to decide. Also starring Justin Theroux asCoop, James Remar as Chick, Robert Wisdom as Officer Dan, Liar Liar'sSwoosie Kurtz as Jean and Toy Story's Wallace Shawn as Herman. StillerI can agree might have good comic timing, Barrymore is okay, Essell isreally good at making you hate her - being so irritating, but thedisastrous events do get repetitive, and a bit too ridiculous for theirown good, but it is certainly a fun film, worth seeing at least once.Okay!

2012-04-21 00:18:44

Entertaining

This was a cute and entertaining movie. It was nice to see a movie that did not contain vulgar language or too much sex!!!!!Thank you for putting a GOOD movie out that everyone could watch and not be embarrassed.

callanvass 2012-04-20 13:44:39

Great Dark Comedy!, That Made Me Laugh A Number Of Times, With Amazing Performances All Around However I Was Disappointed By The Ending *Spoilers*

This is a great dark comedy!,, that made me laugh a number of times,with wonderful performances all around, however i was disappointed bythe ending, because Mrs. Connelly did not deserve to win!. All thecharacters are awesome,and the story was fantastic, plus Ben Stiller,Drew Barrymore and Eileen Essell are all simply amazing in this!.Eileen Essell really did steal the show, and was amazing, but she wasso incredibly unlikable, and i really felt bad for Stiller's andBarrymore's character and wanted them to win so badly!, plus it did geta tad silly at times as well. It helps that Stiller and Barrymore areso likable, and have fantastic chemistry together!, and one of thefunniest scenes in the movie for me is when the tow truck and thenanother truck run over Stiller's new book!, plus it's very well writtenand made as well!. I'm not normally a huge fan of this type of genre,but i am a big fan of both Stiller's and Barrymore's, so i decided torent it, and what i got was a great Dark comedy, that made me laugh anumber of times, with amazing performances all around! however i wasdisappointed by the ending, still i highly recommend this one!. TheDirection is very good!.Danny DeVito does a very good job here, withgreat camera work, and keeping the film surprising and at a very fastpace!. The acting is amazing!. Ben Stiller is amazing as always, and isamazing here, he is extremely likable, hilarious, and while he hasplayed this kind of role many times before he's so good at it, he alsohad fantastic chemistry with Barrymore, and played it straight!, he wasamazing. (Stiller Rules!!!).Drew Barrymore is also amazing as always,and is simply adorable, she fantastic chemistry with Stiller, played avery likable character, and as always was full of life!(BarrymoreRules!!!). Eileen Essell is simply amazing here as Mrs. Connelly, whilei hated her guts and she annoyed the living hell out of me, she playedrole incredibly well, and was the star of the show, and i wanted to seeher dead too!, she deserves a lot of credit for her amazing performancehere!. Harvey Fierstein(Kenneth),Justin Theroux(Coop),JamesRemar(Chick),Robert Wisdom(Officer Dan),Amber Valletta(Celine) all dowhat they have to do very well. Rest of the cast are fine. Overall ihighly recommend this one!. ***1/2 out of 5

2012-04-20 14:29:29

Though not a masterpiece, a movie worth watching!

Duplex brings to the screen the story of a young couple in NYC who buy their first house, a duplex, only to find out that their tenant (the little old lady living on the top floor) is not as adorable as she seems. Subsequently, they try their utmost to get her to move, but soon enough, the couple finds itself losing their mind...Though not a masterpiece, Duplex is a funny film, guaranteed to provide more than a just a few laughs. Ben Stiller, Drew Barrymore, and the rest of the cast have truly outdone themselves with their performances, which are outstanding to say the least! All the actors, without exceptions, give it their 100% and it really shows!The setting, the dialogues, the humor, and the music are all wonderful!Overall, it is a movie definitely worth watching, and even though you might want to stop short of adding it to your collection, it will surely put you in a good mood!

2012-04-20 00:33:35

Hysterical!

This review is from: Duplex (DVD) This movie is so funny! We rented it, loved it, and then purchased it and have watched it several times now. Ben Stiller always cracks me up! Drew Barrymore is funny in this movie, too, and you'll fall in love with the "nice", elderly neighbor lady. (umm....maybe) I highly recommend this movie for lighthearted fun. You won't be disappointed.

ashley_jane_1985 2012-04-18 04:09:30

Maybe yes, maybe no.

This movie was so almost good. I had never seen the previews for thismovie but rented it because I could not find anything else. It wasactually pretty good. I didn't really know anything about the movie butI'm guessing it didn't really get good reviews since I'd never reallyheard anything about it and there was only one to rent in our videostore. But I was actually quite pleased with the movie. I say good jobDanny. It was funny and cute, and Barrymoore and Stiller were goodtogether. not great but good enough to watch once at least. The moviedeserves some credit for good acting and good directing. You gotta loveDanny DeVito.

2012-04-18 01:45:45

Worth seeing

This movie was def worth seeing. Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymoore make a cute couple. The story is like this, Nancy and Alex move into a Duplex. But there is one problom, the old lady who lives up stairs. To me, she is just plain annoing. But it works. They think the only way to get her out, is, oh wait, I'm not going to give anything away! You will just have to go see the movie for yourself! Duplex is good, and not wasting your money. Trust me. If you go see a movie, it has got to be Duplex!

2012-04-15 08:14:14

Awful...

I usually like Ben Stiller's comedies, but this movie was just awful. The plot was ridiculous and the comedy wasn't even mildly funny. The sneak previews on the DVD were more entertaining.

brodie6 2012-04-14 22:24:13

Gross, uninspired and rather boring.

I like Ben Stiller just not in this movie. He gives it his best in thisslapstick based comedy but his performance alone can't save this one. Thecomedy is based on pratfalls and lame gross out humor. I sort of felt like Iwas watching a slightly more sophisticated Home Alone movie.Drew Barrymore was suprisingly good to look at. She opted for see throughblouses and for me that was worth the price of admission. Looking at herkept the movie in the DVD player and not stopped half way through. Otherthan that though I found the movie to be very gross. At one point whensomeone gets a face full of vomit my wife got up and said "that's it I can'ttake anymore" and walked out of the room. I would of also had it not beenfor drews wardrobe! :)

xredgarnetx 2012-04-09 15:49:59

Funny

Not Danny DeVito's best -- that would be WAR OF THE ROSES -- but DUPLEXis plenty funny. An upwardly mobile couple (Ben Stiller and DrewBarrymore) finds the perfect place to live, a duplex in Brooklyn.Unfortunately, it comes with an elderly upstairs tenant who immediatelybegins to drive them crazy. Soon enough, their world is at war. Allhell breaks loose, in the best ROSES tradition. Stiller plays his usualnebbish self, as does Barrymore. But before all is done, they havemurder in their hearts. The old lady is played delightfully by EileenEssel. The ending is a mind blower, one I believe no one will havefigured out beforehand.

stewart317 2012-04-09 09:28:25

A dark and unfunny flick

Two talented actors - working with a pitiful script. Some nice shots ofrenovated Brooklyn brownstones (or is that the back lot in Hollywood?)Actually, I had a similar upstairs neighbor when I lived in a Brooklynbrownstone years ago. This lady must be related. She evoked absolutely NOsympathy - and made the entire attempt slightly creepy.The couple had *zero* chemistry and I'm surprised I watched it to thebitterend. Must have been a slow TV night. The comic turn at the end wassomewhatredeeming and provided a wry twist to an otherwise forgettable movie. I amglad I have found one nice thing to say about it. I am one of the fewpeoplein my circle who thinks Drew Barrymore has talent. I hate to see her inthisdrek.