Danny DeVito directs Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore in this devilish black comedy reminiscent of DeVito's THROW MOMMA FROM THE TRAIN and THE WAR OF THE ROSES. Alex Rose (Stiller) and Nancy Kendricks (Barrymore) are a young, professional, New York couple in search of their dream home. When they finally find the perfect Brooklyn brownstone they are giddy with anticipation. The duplex is a dream come true, complete with multiple fireplaces, except for one thing: Mrs. Connelly (Eileen Essel), the cranky old lady who lives on the rent-controlled top floor. Assuming she is elderly and ill, they take the apartment but their hopes are quickly dashed when they realize that Mrs. Connelly is an energetic senior who enjoys watching her television at top volume day in and day out and rehearsing in a brass band. A writer, Alex, is attempting to finish his novel against a looming deadline. However, each day as he begins to write, he is interrupted by Mrs. Connelly's numerous demands and requests and what begins as a nuisance quickly escalates into an all-out war. When Nancy loses her job and the pair are trapped at home together with Mrs. Connelly, their rage turns to homicidal fantasy as they plot ways to get rid of their no-good neighbor. Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore are pitch perfect as a good-natured couple who, like most DeVito characters, are driven by rage to do very bad things.
Theatrical Release: September 26, 2003
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Distributor Notes: Duplex
Hollywood favorites Ben Stiller (MEET THE PARENTS, THE ROYAL TENENBAUMS) and Drew Barrymore (CHARLIE'S ANGELS: FULL THROTTLE, NEVER BEEN KISSED) lead a star-studded cast in this darkly hilarious comedy where one wrong move turns out to be a monumental mistake! Young and vibrant New Yorkers Alex (Stiller) and Nancy (Barrymore) have just found the perfect place to settle down and share a bright future. But their new home comes with a permanent fixture they didn't expect: an obnoxious elderly tenant who won't move out and refuses to die! Pushed to the edge of insanity as their dream home turns into a nightmare, it's only a matter of time before Alex and Nancy begin to entertain some truly sinister solutions to their problem! Also featuring the ever-popular Harvey Fierstein (DEATH TO SMOOTCHY, INDEPENDENCE DAY) and directed by Danny DeVito (WAR OF THE ROSES, THROW MAMA FROM THE TRAIN), DUPLEX is another laugh-packed crowd-pleaser you don't want to miss!
Source: Buena Vista Home Entertainment.
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Review 1:
"...A refreshingly mean-spirited gothic real estate comic....[The script] is dexterous and tight, and its humor is both sharp and double-edged..."
Source: New York Times
p.E15 09/26/2003
Review 2:
"...DUPLEX has its wacky, funny moments..."
Source: USA Today
p.10E 09/26/2003
Review 3:
"...Directed with amiable mischievousness by Danny DeVito....DUPLEX, which has a glossy sheen, allows Stiller to expand his range as a leading man..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C8 09/26/2003
Review 4:
"...Essel's energy and timing are delightful. Stiller and Barrymore are fun, too..."
Source: Chicago Sun-Times
p.34 09/26/2003
Review 5:
"[T]here's enough here to remind us of De Vito's distinctive comic talents....[Stiller's] look of barely contained exasperation is one of the funniest things here."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.61-2 07/01/2004