Multiplicity is one of those weird movies where its tone and some of its jokes are incredibly juvenile, but there’s also numerous jokes and references to things that are considered inappropriate for kids. The plot is also weird. Our protagonist is Doug, played by Michael Keaton. He’s stressed by his life and when he meets someone with the ability to make clones, he takes the opportunity to be cloned. There are three clones that are referred to as “2”, “3”, and “4”.
This film has some fun in it. There was a scene where two Dougs that are dressed the same share a conversation with Doug’s wife, Laura. This reminded me of a similar scene in the Marx Brothers film, Duck Soup. I wonder if Multiplicity is trying to homage films like that. The chemistry between Dougs 1, 2, and 3 is solid. They work well together comically. 2 and 3 especially have a fun bromance. These “three” characters are performed relatively well. It can be appreciated that the film understood not to feature Doug’s kids very heavily. It’s a common sin of the time to jam in child actors that can’t act into movies. The special effects are quite good.
It’s not all gold. Sadly, the guy who cloned Doug very quickly has no relevance to the story. He’s just gone. The film just needed him to clone, then go. Another issue is the million really terrible jokes in this movie. The score is the typical 90s-2000s kid movie music. Silly, over played instrumental every two seconds. Most of the acting wasn’t particularly good. Somehow Andie MacDowell only managed to be the second worst. Michael Keaton playing “4” as a stereotypical retarded person is just hard to watch. It’s a terrible character who is only there for jokes which are generally the weakest ones in the film. Though the character of “3” is among the best, it’s frustrating that when he was created, he acted differently than how the others acted. 1 and 2 initially acted the same. When we first meet 2, we don’t know which is which. Their different lives made them separate in personality to a logical degree. Our protagonist is spending a lot of time with his family, 2 is not. 3 is just different off the bat, as well as much farther than what makes sense. Doug doesn’t like having to be together and tidy. 2 doesn’t have to do that, so he loosens and is laid back. 1 is subject to his life, so he has to be together. 3 is a very orderly person who acts in a manner similar to a stereotypical gay character in a 90’s sitcom.
SPOILERS
There are many plot holes. How did the clones get legal identification at the end of the film? How did no one at the restaurant notice two Michael Keatons? Whenever Laura talks to 4, she seems to not notice how obviously different he’s acting. So many questions.
The biggest problem with the film is the cookie cutter story that is just so bland. A dad has a shaky family relationship which he finds a solution to, it all eventually falls apart, his wife leaves him, he learns a lesson, get’s his wife back, and lives a comfortable, balanced life contently. It’s the same old boring thing that wasn’t altered at all other than one little thing… it was that Laura didn’t discover the truth about there being multiple Dougs. It was a nice difference that makes this film stand apart from other movies where a secret’s being hidden. It’s a good note to leave on where there’s still a secret in the bank.
OVERVIEW
Multiplicity has some good character moments and good ideas, but other than the good moments between the Three Keatons, there’s little to offer. I would only recommend if you like anyone involved.
The Filme Diary 