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| studio = {{plainlist|
| studio = {{plainlist|
* [[Red Hour Films]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=62709|title=Duplex|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=2016-09-11}}</ref>
*[[Red Hour Films]]<ref name=afi>{{cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/members//catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=62709|title=Duplex|work=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=2016-09-11}}</ref>
* [[Flower Films]]<ref name=afi/>
*[[Flower Films]]<ref name=afi/>
}}
}}
| distributor = [[Miramax Films]]
| distributor = [[Miramax Films]]
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| gross = $19.3 million
| gross = $19.3 million
}}
}}
'''''Duplex''''' (released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as '''''Our House''''' and in Poland as '''''The Old Lady Must Go''''') is a 2003 American [[black comedy film]] directed by [[Danny DeVito]] (who also narrated the film) and written by [[Larry Doyle (writer)|Larry Doyle]]. The film stars [[Ben Stiller]] and [[Drew Barrymore]] with [[Eileen Essell]], [[Harvey Fierstein]], [[Robert Wisdom]], [[Justin Theroux]] and [[James Remar]] in supporting roles.<ref>[http://www.viewbirmingham.co.uk/films/our-house-film-review-7295.html "Our House Film Review"], viewbirmingham.co.uk</ref>
'''''Duplex''''' (released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as '''''Our House''''') is a 2003 American [[black comedy film]] directed by [[Danny DeVito]] (who also narrated the film) and written by [[Larry Doyle (writer)|Larry Doyle]]. The film stars [[Ben Stiller]] and [[Drew Barrymore]] with [[Eileen Essell]], [[Harvey Fierstein]], [[Robert Wisdom]], [[Justin Theroux]] and [[James Remar]] in supporting roles.<ref>[http://www.viewbirmingham.co.uk/films/our-house-film-review-7295.html "Our House Film Review"], viewbirmingham.co.uk</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summary should be between 400 to 700 words. -->
Young, professional [[New York City|New York]] couple
Alex Rose and Nancy Kendricks, are in search of their dream home. The seemingly perfect Brooklyn brownstone duplex has one flaw: Mrs. Connelly, an old Irish lady who lives on the [[rent control|rent-controlled]] top floor. Assuming she won't live long, they buy the apartment.
Young, professional [[New York City|New York]] couple Alex Rose and Nancy Kendricks are in search of their dream home. The seemingly perfect Brooklyn brownstone duplex has one flaw: Mrs. Connelly, an old Irish lady who lives on the [[rent control|rent-controlled]] top floor. Assuming she won't live long, they buy the whole building.


However, they soon realize Mrs. Connelly is lively, enjoys blasting her TV 24-7 and rehearsing in a [[brass band]]. A novelist, Alex must finish his latest against a looming deadline. However, he is interrupted constantly daily by Mrs. Connelly, and it quickly escalates into an all-out war. They try to get her to move out, but she refuses. Next, they try to file a [[noise complaint]] against her, but discover that she has gone to the police first and filed a harassment charge against them. Their friends turn against them when she play-acts as the "poor, innocent, old lady" making it appear they are out to harm her.
However, they soon realize Mrs. Connelly is lively, enjoys blasting her TV 24-7 and rehearsing in a [[brass band]]. A novelist, Alex must finish his latest against a looming deadline. However, he is interrupted constantly daily by Mrs. Connelly, and it quickly escalates into an all-out war.
The couple try to get her to move out, but she refuses. Next, they try to file a [[noise complaint]] against her, but discover that she has gone to the police first and filed a harassment charge against them. Their friends turn against them when she play-acts as the "poor, innocent, old lady" making it appear they are out to harm her.


Nancy loses her job and Alex misses his deadline thanks to the old lady's antics, so they are trapped at home together with Mrs. Connelly with no place to go. Their rage turns to homicidal fantasy as they plot ways to get rid of their manipulative, no-good neighbor. Peace overtures and a break-in lead to nothing, so they hire a [[hitman]], Chick, to kill her. His asking price for the hit is $25,000. Desperate and needing the money in two days, they sell almost everything they own to pay for the Christmas Eve hit.
Nancy loses her job and Alex misses his deadline thanks to the old lady's antics, so they are trapped at home together with Mrs. Connelly with no place to go. Their rage turns to homicidal fantasy as they plot ways to get rid of their manipulative, no-good neighbor. Peace overtures and a break-in lead to nothing, so they hire a [[hitman]], Chick, to kill her. His asking price for the hit is $25,000. Desperate and needing the money in two days, they sell almost everything they own to pay for the Christmas Eve hit.


Chick breaks into Mrs. Connelly's apartment as planned, but fails to kill her as she defends herself with a [[speargun]], shooting him in the shoulder. She is incapacitated in the fight, and the duplex catches fire. Nancy and Alex appear to leave her to die, but then return and save her and her parrot. The fire department puts out the fire. Accepting defeat, Alex and Nancy leave, and find out the old woman has just died. Moving away, they contemplate their strange encounter.
Chick breaks into Mrs. Connelly's apartment as planned, but fails to kill her as she defends herself with a [[speargun]], shooting him in the shoulder. She is incapacitated in the fight, and the duplex catches fire. Nancy and Alex appear to leave her to die, but then return and save her and her parrot. The fire department puts out the fire. Accepting defeat, Alex and Nancy leave, and are told the old woman has just died. Moving away, they contemplate their strange encounter.


We then learn they are not the first to be elaborately scammed by: the realtor of the duplex, Kenneth (Mrs. Connelly's son); the ill-tempered NYPD Officer Dan (Kenneth's boyfriend) who had frequently harassed and distrusted the couple, always siding with Mrs. Connelly in her disputes against them, and Mrs. Connelly herself (who is not in fact dead).
We then learn that they are not the first to be elaborately scammed by: the realtor Kenneth of the duplex, who is, in fact, Mrs. Connelly's son, the ill-tempered NYPD Officer Dan, who is also Kenneth's boyfriend, and who had frequently harassed and distrusted the couple, always siding with Mrs. Connelly in her disputes against them, and Mrs. Connelly herself (who is still alive).


The real-estate scam has been run by the trio for several years: Kenneth sells the ground-floor apartment to an unsuspecting, naive young couple. Then Mrs. Connelly, aided by Dan, harasses them, eventually forcing them to move out. Finally, she [[Faked death|fakes her own death]] so they will never suspect a thing, thus leaving them to collect and live off of the sales commission from the next unsuspecting occupants. Alex and Nancy were their latest victims among many. Despite everything, as they celebrate their latest victory, she admits she actually liked Alex and Nancy and hopes they find success and happiness elsewhere.
The real-estate scam had been run by the trio for several years, with Kenneth selling the ground-floor apartment to an unsuspecting, naive young couple, then Mrs. Connelly, aided by Dan, harassing the buyers, eventually forcing them to move out. Finally, she [[Faked death|fakes her own death]] so they will never suspect a thing, thus leaving them to collect and live off of the sales commission from the next unsuspecting buyers.


Alex and Nancy were their latest victims, amongst many. Despite everything, as they celebrate their latest victory, she admits she actually liked Alex and Nancy and hopes they find success and happiness elsewhere.
⚫
A final voice-over by Alex relates that he and Nancy relocated to [[The Bronx]]. Like the other couples the trio scammed, they never saw Mrs. Connelly or returned to Brooklyn again. Alex used their unpleasant experience as inspiration for his next book entitled ''Duplex'', which became a best-seller, rescuing him and Nancy from poverty and giving the film a semi-happy ending.

⚫
Alex and Nancy relocated to [[The Bronx]]. Like the other couples the trio scammed, they never saw Mrs. Connelly or returned to Brooklyn again. Alex used their unpleasant experience as inspiration for his next book entitled ''Duplex'', which becomes a best-seller. A final voice-over by the narrator relates that "Alex and Nancy's dream house may have been too good to be true, but did they live happily ever after? Well, read the book.".


==Cast==
==Cast==
{{castlist|
* [[Ben Stiller]] as Alex Rose
* [[Ben Stiller]] as Alex Rose
* [[Drew Barrymore]] as Nancy Kendricks
* [[Drew Barrymore]] as Nancy Kendricks
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* [[Michelle Krusiec]] as Dr. Kang
* [[Michelle Krusiec]] as Dr. Kang
* [[Tracey Walter]] as Pharmacy Customer
* [[Tracey Walter]] as Pharmacy Customer
* [[Danny DeVito]] as Narrator (voice) (Uncredited)
* [[Danny DeVito]] as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
''Duplex'' has a 50/100 on [[Metacritic]] and a 35% approval rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]]. The site's consensus states: "It was funnier when it was called ''[[Throw Momma from the Train]]''."<ref>[http://www.metacritic.com/video/titles/duplex?q=Duplex Duplex (2003) - Metacritic]</ref><ref>[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/duplex/ Duplex (2003) - Rotten Tomatoes]</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film two stars out of four and wrote that the "murder schemes aimed at Mrs. Connelly don't generate the laughter they should, maybe because no matter what she does, she still seems, irremediably, unredeemably, a sweet little old lady. [...] 'Duplex' is all about plotting; it tries to impose emotions that we don't really feel. We can't identify with Mrs. Connelly, that's for sure, but we can't identify with Alex and Nancy, either, because we don't share their frustration -- and the reason we don't is because we don't believe it. There's too much contrivance and not enough plausibility, and so finally we're just enjoying the performances and wishing they'd been in a more persuasive movie."<ref>Roger Ebert (September 26, 2003). [http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/duplex-2003 Duplex Movie Review and Film Summary (2003)]. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved March 27, 2016.</ref>
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|35|5|111|consensus=It was funnier when it was called ''[[Throw Momma from the Train|Throw Momma From the Train]]''.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/duplex|title=Duplex|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=June 9, 2024}}</ref> {{Metacritic film prose|50|31}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/duplex/|title=Duplex|website=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=June 9, 2024}}</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film two stars out of four and wrote that the "murder schemes aimed at Mrs. Connelly don't generate the laughter they should, maybe because no matter what she does, she still seems, irremediably, unredeemably, a sweet little old lady. [...] ''Duplex'' is all about plotting; it tries to impose emotions that we don't really feel. We can't identify with Mrs. Connelly, that's for sure, but we can't identify with Alex and Nancy, either, because we don't share their frustration -- and the reason we don't is because we don't believe it. There's too much contrivance and not enough plausibility, and so finally we're just enjoying the performances and wishing they'd been in a more persuasive movie."<ref>Roger Ebert (September 26, 2003). [http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/duplex-2003 Duplex Movie Review and Film Summary (2003)]. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]''. Retrieved March 27, 2016.</ref>


Barrymore earned a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] nomination for [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]] for her performances in both ''Duplex'' and ''[[Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle]]'', but lost to [[Jennifer Lopez]] for ''[[Gigli]]''.
Barrymore earned a [[Golden Raspberry Award]] nomination for [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress|Worst Actress]] for her performances in both ''Duplex'' and ''[[Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle]]'', but lost to [[Jennifer Lopez]] for ''[[Gigli]]''.


On a US $40 million budget, it grossed $9,692,135 in the US and $19,322,135 worldwide.<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=duplex.htm Duplex (2003) - Box Office Mojo]</ref>
On a $40 million budget, it grossed $9,692,135 in the US, and $19,322,135 worldwide, making it a commercial failure.<ref>[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=duplex.htm Duplex (2003) - Box Office Mojo]</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 86: Line 94:
==External links==
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0266489}}
*{{IMDb title|0266489}}
* {{AllMovie title|275570}}
*{{AllMovie title|275570}}
* {{mojo title|duplex}}
*{{mojo title|duplex}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes|duplex}}
*{{Rotten Tomatoes|duplex}}
* {{Metacritic film}}
*{{Metacritic film}}


{{Danny DeVito}}
{{Danny DeVito}}
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[[Category:Films produced by Ben Stiller]]
[[Category:Films produced by Ben Stiller]]
[[Category:Films produced by Drew Barrymore]]
[[Category:Films produced by Drew Barrymore]]
[[Category:Films scored by David Newman (composer)]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Larry Doyle]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Larry Doyle]]
[[Category:Miramax films]]
[[Category:Miramax films]]
[[Category:Red Hour Productions films]]
[[Category:Red Hour Productions films]]
⚫
[[Category:2003 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films about Irish-American culture]]
[[Category:Films about Irish-American culture]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language black comedy films]]

Latest revision as of 15:06, 7 September 2024

For the 2015 film, see The Duplex (film).
Duplex
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDanny DeVito
Written byLarry Doyle
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyAnastas Michos
Edited by
Music byDavid Newman
Production
companies
Distributed byMiramax Films
Release date
  • September 26, 2003 (2003-09-26)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million
Box office$19.3 million

Duplex (released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as Our House) is a 2003 American black comedy film directed by Danny DeVito (who also narrated the film) and written by Larry Doyle. The film stars Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore with Eileen Essell, Harvey Fierstein, Robert Wisdom, Justin Theroux and James Remar in supporting roles.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Young, professional New York couple Alex Rose and Nancy Kendricks are in search of their dream home. The seemingly perfect Brooklyn brownstone duplex has one flaw: Mrs. Connelly, an old Irish lady who lives on the rent-controlled top floor. Assuming she won't live long, they buy the whole building.

However, they soon realize Mrs. Connelly is lively, enjoys blasting her TV 24-7 and rehearsing in a brass band. A novelist, Alex must finish his latest against a looming deadline. However, he is interrupted constantly daily by Mrs. Connelly, and it quickly escalates into an all-out war.

The couple try to get her to move out, but she refuses. Next, they try to file a noise complaint against her, but discover that she has gone to the police first and filed a harassment charge against them. Their friends turn against them when she play-acts as the "poor, innocent, old lady" making it appear they are out to harm her.

Nancy loses her job and Alex misses his deadline thanks to the old lady's antics, so they are trapped at home together with Mrs. Connelly with no place to go. Their rage turns to homicidal fantasy as they plot ways to get rid of their manipulative, no-good neighbor. Peace overtures and a break-in lead to nothing, so they hire a hitman, Chick, to kill her. His asking price for the hit is $25,000. Desperate and needing the money in two days, they sell almost everything they own to pay for the Christmas Eve hit.

Chick breaks into Mrs. Connelly's apartment as planned, but fails to kill her as she defends herself with a speargun, shooting him in the shoulder. She is incapacitated in the fight, and the duplex catches fire. Nancy and Alex appear to leave her to die, but then return and save her and her parrot. The fire department puts out the fire. Accepting defeat, Alex and Nancy leave, and are told the old woman has just died. Moving away, they contemplate their strange encounter.

We then learn that they are not the first to be elaborately scammed by: the realtor Kenneth of the duplex, who is, in fact, Mrs. Connelly's son, the ill-tempered NYPD Officer Dan, who is also Kenneth's boyfriend, and who had frequently harassed and distrusted the couple, always siding with Mrs. Connelly in her disputes against them, and Mrs. Connelly herself (who is still alive).

The real-estate scam had been run by the trio for several years, with Kenneth selling the ground-floor apartment to an unsuspecting, naive young couple, then Mrs. Connelly, aided by Dan, harassing the buyers, eventually forcing them to move out. Finally, she fakes her own death so they will never suspect a thing, thus leaving them to collect and live off of the sales commission from the next unsuspecting buyers.

Alex and Nancy were their latest victims, amongst many. Despite everything, as they celebrate their latest victory, she admits she actually liked Alex and Nancy and hopes they find success and happiness elsewhere.

Alex and Nancy relocated to The Bronx. Like the other couples the trio scammed, they never saw Mrs. Connelly or returned to Brooklyn again. Alex used their unpleasant experience as inspiration for his next book entitled Duplex, which becomes a best-seller. A final voice-over by the narrator relates that "Alex and Nancy's dream house may have been too good to be true, but did they live happily ever after? Well, read the book.".

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 35% of 111 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5/10. The website's consensus reads: "It was funnier when it was called Throw Momma From the Train."[3] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 50 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[4]

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film two stars out of four and wrote that the "murder schemes aimed at Mrs. Connelly don't generate the laughter they should, maybe because no matter what she does, she still seems, irremediably, unredeemably, a sweet little old lady. [...] Duplex is all about plotting; it tries to impose emotions that we don't really feel. We can't identify with Mrs. Connelly, that's for sure, but we can't identify with Alex and Nancy, either, because we don't share their frustration -- and the reason we don't is because we don't believe it. There's too much contrivance and not enough plausibility, and so finally we're just enjoying the performances and wishing they'd been in a more persuasive movie."[5]

Barrymore earned a Golden Raspberry Award nomination for Worst Actress for her performances in both Duplex and Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, but lost to Jennifer Lopez for Gigli.

On a $40 million budget, it grossed $9,692,135 in the US, and $19,322,135 worldwide, making it a commercial failure.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Duplex". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2016-09-11.
  2. ^ "Our House Film Review", viewbirmingham.co.uk
  3. ^ "Duplex". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "Duplex". Metacritic. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  5. ^ Roger Ebert (September 26, 2003). Duplex Movie Review and Film Summary (2003). Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  6. ^ Duplex (2003) - Box Office Mojo
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Duplex (film).
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