Review of Melinda and Melinda (2004) by Ashley R — 26 Aug 2006

[font=Century Gothic]"Melinda and Melinda" starts with two playwrights(Wallace Shawn and Larry Pine) debating about whether comedy or tragedy best represents the human condition. They are given a plot to dissect: a dinner party is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Melinda(Radha Mitchell).[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]In the tragedy version, the dinner party is being held by an old friend of hers, Laurel(Chloe Sevigny), and her husband, Lee(Jonny Lee Miller), an actor who is hoping to land the lead in a new play.[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]In the comedy version, Melinda is a downstairs neighbor who interrupts the dinner party being held by Susan(Amanda Peet, miscast as a film director) and Hobie(Will Ferrell, who does a better Woody Allen impression than Kenneth Branagh) after ingesting a large amount of sleeping pills. Susan is hoping to get financing to direct her second feature while Hobie is a struggling actor with a thing for playing every part with a limp.[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"Melinda and Melinda" is a grand idea for a movie but it fails in its execution. There is little difference between the two versions because Woody Allen's style permeates both to the core.(And saying that there is both comedy and tragedy in life does seem a rather obvious statement.) Overall, the only reason for the movie to exist is as an acting showcase for Radha Mitchell who is amazing.[/font].