Here the actor took on multiple roles at once and proved he could be not just the central character, but an entire ensemble — all by himself.
What the movie's about
Engineer Doug Kinney ( Michael Keaton ) is tired of being pulled between work and family, so he agrees to an experiment — he gets cloned. One double handles construction, another takes care of household duties, and a third turns out too simple-minded, appearing with below-average intelligence.
Source:
imdb.com
Watching experience
Multiplicity is a rare example where the entire comedy hinges on one actor's performance. Keaton plays different versions of his character so convincingly that you forget it's all the same person. The movie's funny, sometimes absurd, but still appealing despite its flaws.Critics and audience reaction
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film sits at just 46%. Audiences are much warmer toward it: nowadays Multiplicity is often remembered as a cult comedy of its decade. On IMDb it holds a solid 6.1, with comments full of phrases like: "Without Keaton this movie wouldn't work, but with him it became a little classic."IMDb user claybo76This is just a light, breezy film with some genuinely funny moments. Michael Keaton must have had a blast playing this role (these roles). Imagine having to act with three other guys who aren't really there. The beauty of his performance is that you can tell which clone is which. It's like having four different actors in the film, like Jeremy Irons in Dead Ringers.
Worth watching now?
Yes, if only to see what an actor can do when given free rein. Keaton didn't just brilliantly handle the task of "playing himself" — he showed he could be different: charismatic, funny, ridiculous, stern.Today Multiplicity feels like an experiment of its time, but it's exactly these kinds of films that reveal acting talent better than big blockbusters. Earlier on zoomboola.com we covered Lara Croft: Tomb Raider — the cult beginning of a story that Sophie Turner will now continue.
