Twins

1988 Comedy

The central "gimmick" of the comedy-adventure Twins is established early on. Unbeknownst to one another, king-sized Arnold Schwarzenegger and gnomeish Danny De Vito are twin brothers. Even better: Schwarzenegger is a mild-mannered, bookish type, while De Vito is a vitriolic troublemaker. The film takes satiric jabs at the notion of "perfect" genetics, and makes several pointed comments concerning the dangers of youthful pre-conditioning by insensitive parents.

Director: Ivan Reitman

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger,Danny DeVito, Kelly Preston, Chloe Webb

Reviews

  • Twins is not a great comedy - it's not up there with Reitman's "Ghostbusters" and DeVito is not as funny as he was in "Ruthless People" and "Wise Guys" - but it is an engaging entertainment with some big laughs and a sort of warm goofiness.

    Roger Ebert - The Chicago Sun-Times

    11 May 2013

  • Twins starts with an overblown fairy-tale quality that seems as if it should work. But, by the finish, the movie collapses on the shoulders of the stars. It works because they both showed up and delivered the goods and kept their end of the deal.

    Michael Wilmington - Los Angeles Times

    11 May 2013

  • For a big, floppy, silly movie that is in many ways the epitome of throwaway entertainment, Twins has its charms. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito make it seem they had so much fun making this flabby comedy that the fun becomes infectious.

    Peter Stack - The San Francisco Chronicle

    11 May 2013

  • Like it or not (it's hard to dislike), it's less a movie than a concept searching for one.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    11 May 2013

  • The attempts to supply heart are never more than synthetic, but Schwarzenegger, as the good guy with the good genes, and his goofy sweetness lift Twins into the win column.

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    11 May 2013

Awards

  • Top Box Office Films

    ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards (1990)

  • Randy Edelman

    BMI Film & TV Awards (1989)

  • Best Original Song - Motion Picture

    Golden Globes (1989)

     
  • Favorite Movie Actor

    Kids' Choice Awards (1989)

  • Favorite Comedy Motion Picture

    People's Choice Awards (1989)