The idea behind Melinda and Melinda is really good. The execution however never achieves its lofty aspirations. Two different versions of a story are shown; one is tragic one is comedic. We’ve seen this before were different views of are presented in the same film and in almost every case one part of the film is better than the other. The comedy turns out pretty good but the tragedy is only so-so and Allen never finds a way to merge the two stories into one film.
Melinda and Melinda
3 & 1/2 Stars
Two different takes on life has been done before on film and the romantic theme has been done recently (1998’s Sliding Doors); so this film is coming to the party a little late. But we do have Woody Allen who makes a very interesting party guest throwing this bash; so, of course, there is much to discuss. Is this one of Allen’s best films? No, but it does have its moments and very good performances that are definitely worth checking out.
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A group of friends talk about life during a relaxed dinner at their favorite restaurant. One introduces a vague story he has overheard about a woman crashing a dinner party of friends and then two of them take turns telling the story in how they see the world. Each story is then shown to us as it evolves from their initial narration into a two separate stories inter-cut between each other and scenes from the restaurant discussion. Wallace Shawn provides a fine performance here as the man who argues that life is tragic yet gives us the comedic telling of Melinda.
The two stories contain different characters and the film is cut together so you see a little of one and then a little of the other back and forth. Part of the problem is the only thing holding the stories together is the loose dinner party that really isn’t a part of either story, and might be the most interesting part of the film that sadly only gets brief moments in-between the two stories.
The film provides a showcase for some great performances. Radha Mitchell is Melinda the main character in both stories although different in each. She provides the range of emotion and is good even as the tragic story gets too maudlin and sloppy. Also well used here is the beautiful Chloë Sevigny dressed down as the good normal gal of the group. The other member of the tragedy worth mentioning is Chiwetel Ejiofor who instantly infuses the film with class. Another great performance by Ejiofor; I’ll go see this guy in anything.
From the comic tale Will Farrell does a good job with the neurotic Woody Allen role and only gets annoying late in the film. Allen did a good job in this casting (much better than Biggs or Branaugh) Farrell is able to do the role naturally without falling back into imitation. Amanda Peet and Steve Carell also add some nice comedic touches.
Although the film has interesting ideas and good performances they never quite come together to make a cohesive film. Part of the problem lies in the final act of the tragedy as it becomes depressing at the same time the comedy is getting into full gear. The dichotomy never quite fits. Still there are plenty of reasons to look at this film not the least are a series of very good performances by Mitchell, Ejiofor, Farrell, and Peet.
