Review of Melinda and Melinda (2004) by Matthew B — 29 Aug 2010
How wonderful Melinda and Melinda would have been if it had been made when the Woody Allen regulars - Allen himself, Keaton, Farrow, Waterston, Wiest, Roberts, etc. - were not members of AARP. Will Ferrell does not serve as a substitute for the neurotic, lovably pompous persona which Allen occupied in so many of his earlier films, and Amanda Peet is more of a petty bitch than the chronically uppity, dissatisfied, yearning Keaton-Farrow paradigm which Allen had perfected by Crimes and Misdemeanors and Husbands and Wives.
Steve Carell is wasted in a lifeless role, and Chiwetel Ejiofor (who is usually top-notch) can't effectively juggle Allen's often clunky dialogue. On the other hand, Chloe Sevigny is excellent as the sympathetic Laurel, and Jonny Lee Miller is contemptibly pathetic as Lee.
What truly makes the film compelling material is Radha Mitchell's Janus-like turn as Melinda - one half nearly crazed, insecure, destined for suicidal destruction, the other the typical Allen minx/muse - sexy but slightly detached, slightly clumsy but never a comedic element in totality.
A fun experiment and little more.
This review of Melinda and Melinda (2004) was written by Matthew B on 29 Aug 2010.
Melinda and Melinda has generally received mixed reviews.
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