Twins

Twins

I know I am a little late to the party, but I am starting to get into It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The quirky and mean-spirited show has opened my eyes to what a comic gem Danny DeVito is. I was not much of a fan when I was growing up, but now I feel like I may have been missing something. I thought I had better revisit some of his golden oldies - and I started with the 1988 Ivan Reitman hit, Twins.

Twins begins with the description of a brilliant science experiment to mix the DNA of the world's best men and create the perfect superman. Instead they create twins - one is the super intelligent and super strong Arnold Schwarzenegger and the other is...well, he is Danny DeVito. Separated at birth, Twins is the story of how they find each other and have an adventure together. The idea of Schwarzenegger and DeVito as siblings was so clever that the movie was big hit at the box office. But the movie doesn't coast on its amusing premise alone. The two stars have an undeniable chemistry and are clearly having a grand time together. Schwarzenegger's blind and naive idealism clashing head-long into seedy, street smart DeVito's cynicism makes up the meat of the movie and provides the biggest laughs. And when the movie focuses on their relationship and their travels with sisters Marnie and Linda (Kelly Preston and Chloe Webb), the movie is genuinely funny, if a bit dated. Jokes that were funny in the 80s don't fly so well now - maybe because I'm older or maybe because they just aren't that funny. But overall, there are enough solid one-liners and fun set-pieces that you will still enjoy yourself. Twins is like that old, cozy blanket from childhood that you pull out of the closet - it may have holes and rips, but by golly, it still makes you feel warm.

I say most of the movie because the whole film isn't about these relationships. There is a real plot, too. And it is a cheesy, lame plot. DeVito has stolen a car with some "merchandise" that he is attempting to sell to a crooked corporation. But there is a hitman on his tail, providing the movie with an action climax that is wholly out-of-place with the rest of the picture. This part of the movie does not age well at all, and I'm not even sure why it's in there.

But it seems like Reitman and Co. realized this because the hitman plot takes up very little screen time until the end. Up to that point, let the cozy, ripped blanket keep you warm.

TRIVIA: So...there were two mismatched movie couples at the studio at this time. Schwarzenegger and DeVito were one. Hulk Hogan and Christopher Lloyd were the other. There were also two appropriate movies at the studio and for awhile it looked like the Hogan-Lloyd team was going to be starring in Twins. But then Schwarzenegger and DeVito ran in and snagged Twins first, leaving Hogan and Lloyd to star in the other movie - the unfortunate and forgettable Suburban Commando. Ah-nold, you dodged a bullet on that one!"

BEST LINE: Julius Benedict (Schwarzenegger): "The pavement was his enemy."

MVP: So here is the question - did DeVito win me over? Well, he may not have hit his Philadelphia brilliance, but yes. Yes, he did. The subversive little bastard sinks his teeth into the role and gives us a fun and lively performance. And he also gives us some genuine, dramatic moments that remind us that he is more than a comedian, but actually a good actor. But is he MVP? No way! The MVP clearly is the Austrian Oak himself. Arnold Schwarzenegger proved critics wrong with this movie. He wasn't just a brainless lunkhead who was only good at blowing stuff up. He was actually funny! Arnold shows a deft hand with comedy, with pitch perfect timing, terrifically naive line readings and an always funny deer-in-the-headlights stare. Arnold is all hugs and rainbows and love in this movie, and he is relishing the chance to turn his violent image on its head. It's a pity he didn't do more comedy. Sure, he had the stinkers in Junior and Jingle all the Way, but when cast right, he would be the funniest thing in the movie!