Dupe (2005) User Reviews

Technically impressive and amusing short film

[bob the moo · 6 May 2007]

Slacker Adam has had enough of doing domestic chores while he could be chilling out playing video games or just hanging out. To help him out he orders a cloning machine off eBay and excitedly takes deliver of it one morning. He produces a clone but unfortunately his clone has the same idea as Adam in regards the housework – make a clone to do it. Soon he is facing two clones of himself, neither of which are too bothered about doing anything but hanging out and playing video games.

Similar to an idea done a few years back in a Michael Keaton comedy, this short film sees Adam generating clones of himself who quickly develop other clones as none of it goes to plan. It is a simple affair thanks to the running time but it is amusing and well done. It is never hilarious and it doesn't really have a strong ending but it is quite entertaining in a light way to see Adam's slacker character be cloned along with his body so that really he is just left with the same problem as he had originally.

Waitt directs with an air of the absurd, with the fantasy of the idea very much grounded in Adam's directionless life and the contrast works well. It is easy to forget the technical aspect of the film because it looks so seamless. Waitt also does well in the lead role as well although it is a shame that McLeod is pretty weak as the girlfriend.

Overall then, nothing brilliant but amusing for what it is and worth a look.

Hilarious, award-winning short film.

[keysersoze13 · 9/10 · 20 December 2006]

'Dupe', written and directed by Chris Waitt, is a simply brilliant short film that begins with a clever but simple idea and creates a very enjoyable ten-or-so minutes of film.

The story involves slacker Adam, played by Waitt, tired of washing dishes and other household chores, so he orders a cloning machine from eBay and creates a second Adam to help out around the house. Unfortunately, his clone is equally lazy, and the creation of a third Adam is also unsuccessful, leaving dishes to pile up in the sink and food to run out. When Adam leaves the clones to go to work, they wreak havoc, creating several other clones and partying. Matters are further complicated when Adam announces that his girlfriend is coming over.

The film is extremely funny and features some clever trickery to integrate the cloned Adams with him on screen. This film is well worth catching and thoroughly deserves the award it has won.