Review of Medicine for Melancholy (2009) by William G — 14 Mar 2009

I don't know what critics found so compelling about this film. It was slow to the point of being painful. The often fuzzy, herky-jerky, too close camera work was disruptive and irritating. There was no plot, just an attempt (and an unsuccessful one at that) to show the beginnings and evolution of a near relationship between two people who were completely uninteresting.

Why the lead gal would want to even spend five minutes with the schlep played by Cenac is beyond me. Okay, we'll give her a break and say she tied one on and did a one nighter with someone she didn't know, but after that, what did Cenac's character offer to want her to spend more time with him? His playful nature? (where was it?); his cleverness? (his most brilliant line was the oft repeated "I appreciate that"); his work? (can setting up aquariums really be that interesting?); his humor? (non-existent).

Actually, Cenac's character was as boring as the movie. And we could have used less cliches throughout the film, the worst being the couple's ride on the merry go round which was so sappy that is looked like a commercial for a deodarant.

I was with four relatively hip people who all lived in San Francisco who were grateful for one thing; the movie was only an hour and 28 minutes long.