Duplex

2003

Duplex

Critics Consensus

It was funnier when it was called Throw Momma From the Train.

35%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 112

40%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 72,050

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Duplex Photos

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Movie Info

Just how far would you go to have the home of your dreams all to yourself? A couple start asking themselves that very question in this dark comedy directed by Danny DeVito. Alex (Ben Stiller) and Nancy (Drew Barrymore) are a young couple who are happy and successful, but lack one thing that they truly want -- the perfect home in Manhattan. Alex and Nancy think they may have found just the place they've been looking for when they discover the bottom half of a beautiful old duplex has opened up. While the couple are delighted with their new flat, they discover it has one major disadvantage they hadn't counted on -- their upstairs neighbor, Mrs. Connelly (Eileen Essel), an elderly woman who soon makes their lives a living hell. Persuading Mrs. Connelly to move is fruitless, since she has a long term rent-controlled lease, and as things become more and more difficult, Alex and Nancy begin to wonder if she won't go away on her own, perhaps a more drastic (and permanent) solution may be in order. Duplex also stars Harvey Fierstein, Justin Theroux, James Remar, and Swoosie Kurtz.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for sexual content, language and some violence)
  • Genre:
    Comedy
  • Directed By:
    Danny DeVito
  • Written By:
    Larry Doyle, Danny DeVito
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Miramax Films

Cast

Ben Stiller
as Alex Rose
Drew Barrymore
as Nancy Kendricks
Eileen Essel
as Mrs. Connelly
Harvey Fierstein
as Kenneth
Justin Theroux
as Coop
James Remar
as Chick
Robert Wisdom
as Officer Dan
Swoosie Kurtz
as Jean
Wallace Shawn
as Herman
Maya Rudolph
as Tara
Chris Mulkey
Amber Valletta
as Celine
Cheryl Klein
as Ginger
Sherry Klein
Tim Maculan
as Terrence
Jackie Titone
as Bartender
Evgeniy Lazarev
as Mr. Dzerzhinsky
Kumar Pallana
as Indian Restaurant Owner
Eugene Lazarev
as Mr. Dzerzhinsky
Phillip Perlman
as Phil
Philip Perlman
as Phil
Gary Riotto
as Drug Dealer
Michelle Krusiec
as Dr. Kang
Margie Loomis
as Old Biddy No. 1
Linda Porter
as Old Biddy No. 2
Edward Edwards
as Antique Dealer
Louis Giambalvo
as Pharmacist
Tracey Walter
as Pharmacy Customer
John Hamburg
as Mr. Friedman
Christina Kirk
as Mrs. Friedman
Jenette Goldstein
as Moderator
Leyna Nguyen
as Female Newscaster
Chuma Hunter-Gault
as Mailroom Guy
Jim Castillo
as Weatherman
Michael Fahn
as Sneezer on Train
Roberta R. Deen
as Caterer
Chris Doyle
as Tavern Bartender
Christopher Doyle
as Tavern Bartender
Christine La Fonatine
as Don Piper Fan No. 1
Joey Banks
as Police officer
Christine La Fontaine
as Don Piper Fan #1
Geraldine Hughes
as Receptionist
Joe Banks
as Police Officer
Eileen Essell
as Mme. Connelly
Danny DeVito
as Narrator
Claude Picasso
as Little Dick
Guiles
as Little Dick
Stomy Bugsy
as Little Dick
View All

Critic Reviews for Duplex

All Critics (112) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (39) | Rotten (73)

View All Critic Reviews (112)

Audience Reviews for Duplex

  • May 31, 2016
    Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore star in the Danny DeVito black comedy Duplex. When the "sweet" old lady in their duplex turns out to be anything but, the new owners find themselves being driven to murder. The plot is pretty formulaic and includes a lot of the standard annoying neighbor tropes; playing the TV too loud, unruly pets, etc. And the characters aren't really all that sympathetic. But, Stiller does a good job with the physical comedy and there are some rather fun skits. Yet while it's entertaining at times, Duplex doesn't get the tone right and ends up being rather ugly and mean spirited.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
  • Jul 27, 2014
    It is Eileen Essell who makes it a real pleasure to watch this mildly entertaining comedy that, despite its share of funny moments here and there and a good twist in the end, has not much else to offer in terms of narrative and gets less and less funny after halfway through.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Apr 11, 2014
    Surprising DeVito project that ultimately falls flat. Has some amusing moments so the journey's okay.
    Sanity Assassin ! Super Reviewer
  • Mar 13, 2013
    "Alex and Nancy finally found their dream home... And then they moved in." Duplex is a film that baffles me, much like another Danny Devito dark comedy, Death to Smoochy. He has a way with dark humor and I loved it in War of the Roses. In Duplex, it doesn't quite work all that well though. I love the premise, but it was just missing something. The old lady is a really good character, but I don't think she's used as well as she could have been. This could have been amazing. Alex and Nancy are a happily married couple. Alex is a writer, who is currently working on his second novel. Nancy is a journalist. They find their dream home, which happens to be a Duplex. One problem though, there's an old woman living on the second floor. Alex and Nancy think she's going to die soon, so they grab the place, believing she is a sweet old woman. A lot of back and forth goes on and it turns into just another escalating bullshit driven comedy, which is sad, because I enjoyed a lot of the details put into the story, just not the character interactions.  All in all, Duplex is nothing more than an average comedy. Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore play pretty much their same film personas. I happen to like them both, but for people who aren't fans of theirs, this is definitely not one to watch. It wasn't a complete waste of time for me. It had spells that were really entertaining and hilarious, but they were too few and far between.
    Melvin W Super Reviewer
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