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Back before the scandals and the divorce…back before he was the Governator…Arnold Schwarzenegger was Danny DeVito’s twin. Now that the star has tried his hands at politics, he’s eager to return to the big screen with his twin—and a new triplet—at his side for a sequel to 1988’s Twins. So now’s the perfect time to take a look back on the movie that started the multiples madness.
In director Ivan Reitman’s wacky ‘80s mega-hit, Schwarzenegger stars as Julius Benedict, a physically perfect specimen who was the result of a scientific experiment. After his mother died in childbirth, Julius was taken to a remote island in the South Pacific, where he was raised by scientists.
On his 35th birthday, Julius is informed that he has a twin brother, Vincent (DeVito), who was sent away to an orphanage in Los Angeles after the experiment ended in disaster. Convinced that his twin needs his help, Julius rushes off to find Vincent, only to find him in trouble with the law, in debt to a bunch of loan sharks, and on the run from a dangerous criminal. And when Julius discovers that their mother may not be dead after all, he becomes determined to find her—to reunite their whole family once and for all.
The setup may not make a whole lot of sense—and the plot may be ridiculously contrived—but there’s still something strangely charming about Twins. Much of the charm comes from the Governator himself, who’s lovably hilarious as big, naïve teddy bear Julius, who, in his 35 years, has never been off his remote little island. Everything he knows comes from a book, and although he has no experience with things like big cities or women, he’s eager to find out. At the same time, though, there’s one thing that he’s absolutely sure about: he wants a family—and he’ll do anything to make that dream a reality. He’s cluelessly earnest in his mission, with the kind of wide-eyed enthusiasm that makes him as adorable as a massive Austrian bodybuilder could possibly be.
DeVito, meanwhile, is Schwarzenegger’s perfect opposite—in pretty much every way. And although it isn’t exactly easy to fall in love with lying, cheating, stealing Vincent, even he has some charming moments. As Vincent begins to warm up to Julius and the idea of having a family, you’ll begin to warm up to him, too. And, in the end, the two actually make a cute pair.
Twins isn’t nearly as action-packed or explosive as the action-comedies you see in theaters today (like 21 Jump Street or The Other Guys). In fact, it’s laid-back enough to give viewers more than enough time to contemplate the various plot holes and inconsistencies. Still, this playful ‘80s comedy (while not necessarily in need of a sequel) is a worthwhile option of a lazy Friday night on the couch.
