Duplicity

Duplicity

Opened March 20, 2009 | Runtime:2 hr. 5 min.
PG-13: language and some sexual content

Duplicity was better than I expected. Though if you watch enough movies in this genre, you can see the twists and turns coming a mile away. Clive Owen is appropriately charming, debonair and British. Julia Roberts is... well... Julia Roberts. There are movies I love her in (Notting Hill), movies I can't stand her in (Pretty Woman) and movies I love in spit of her (My Best Friend's Wedding). This one, fortunately, falls closer to the first.

Owen's and Roberts' banter and chemistry is excellent. The '60s stylization totally works, since this is definitely a throwback to the double-crossing capers from that era. It's a fun, fast-paced romp... (I think I've used that phrase recently... hm...)

The constant flash-backs can get confusing. It does all neatly wrap up in the end, but it may be too late by then for some. My parents saw this one and didn't like it at all because by the end of the movie they were completely lost! They had know idea what had happened and were totally disoriented. So for some, it may be a little TOO fast-paced.

I personally had little trouble keeping up with what was going on, but then again I watch movies on a near-daily basis and this one was pretty cliche. It was fairly obvious who was double-crossing whom. I think there's a hollywood formula to these movies, and the director didn't stray far from that blueprint.

Still, well acted, well edited, visually entertaining. Make sure you have a last bathroom break and all your snacks before the opening credits, or you will be totally lost! No stepping out for even a second on this one!

My overall rating: set your Netflix to get this one as soon as it's available.