Melinda And Melinda

Still the same old story...

bgarcez from United Kingdom , 03/04/2005

They're rich, live in the best spots of Manhattan, go to nice restaurants and drink good wine on a regular basis, yet they manage to carry a bagfull of neurosis, phobias, suicidal tendencies and complexes.

It's Woody, once again, recycling himself.

If his intent was to balance a comical story with a tragical one, he's done it way better in Crimes and Misdemeanors. This one lacks that same bittersweet touch.

You've seen it all before. With the difference that there was a time in which you still laughed about the seductress that ends up to be a nutter or the husband that falls in love with the next door neighbour and so generates a series of would be laughable gags.

There was once a filmaker who managed to reinvent himself in each movie. I'm talking about the guy who made Zelig, Annie Hall and The Purple Rose of Cairo.

The author of Melinda and Melinda just looks like a pale imitation of the Woody from those days.

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Some great one liners

Film reveiwer from London, England , 12/05/2005

The first 5 mins really builds you up just like the trailer, yet the trailer has all the humorous moments in the film. Will Ferrell has all the great one liners and to his credit delivers them well. Apart from that, the film stands still until the last 20 mins and is mind numbingly dull to that point. Final verdict is great concept dosen't deliver.

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Worthwhile to Watch

blowski from London , 26/04/2005

Fun to watch until it starts sagging in the middle.

Some criticism stands on this movie not being as good as others, but sometimes you just have to judge a movie as a stand alone piece of work. On that basis, this is an often humorous, interesting portrayal of similar stories told as tragedy and comedy at the same time.

The problem with the film is more that the link is sometimes very contrived, while at other times barely there. Parallel stories have been done better than this, the themes themselves have been done better than this, and Woody Allen has also done better than this - but it remains highly enjoyable.

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Another good Allen effort

McClennan from St Helens [Highly rated reviewer] , 11/08/2005

Two tales, one of tragedy, one of comedy, played out amongst a table discussion about whether life is one or the other. Woody Allen is never going to rise to the level of previous works but this film works very well in comparison to others. Will Ferrel plays the part that Woody Allen would do normally and at the start, his repetition of Allen's style of delivery seems a bit contrived but as the film goes on absolutely shines, with some absolute comedy pearlers. The tragedy side isn't quite as involving as he's tried to make it which doesn't really matter because the comedy story balances out what is a minor point. Some people are suggesting that Will Ferrel may be the new Peter Sellers, it's very early to tell but I was pleasantly surprised at his efforts in this film, he's leagues ahead of Ben Stiller, leagues.

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Mediocre and Mediocre

Ally86 from N.london , 16/03/2008

The premise of this film is quite unique - how a basic story of an uninvited guest can be interpreted either comically or tragically - an interesting philosophical musing I can imagine Woody and friends cooking up in conversation. Unfortunately, Woody fails in his execution of this potentially good idea and the result was a disappointing, though still mildly entertaining film.

Perhaps most disappointing of all was the performance of Will Ferrell, who brought no creativity to the role of the husband, a character very transparently based on Woody's. Ferrell's subsequent imitation of the neurotic adulterer in every way - the way he spoke, moved, fumbled and delivered the one-liners - was cringe-worthy. Given the ability of Ferrell as an actor it was quite unbearable at times to get through his scenes, and one wishes Woody wasn't too old to just play the part himself.

The relationship between the three female friends was reminiscent of Hannah and Her Sisters, though apart from an impressive performance from Radha Mitchell (tragic Melinda) at times, the interactions and dialogue were weak compared to the early film.

On the plus, I did enjoy the way the film was shot. Woody returns to his practice of placing the camera in one spot of the room and filming whole scenes as characters turn their backs to the camera and even walk out of the room whilst talking to leave us viewing an empty room for a period of time, only hearing the dialogue. Like in Manhattan, this works really well.

All in all we are presented with a film which has some of the appealing Woody ingredients – a thoughtful premise, a host of promiscuous New Yorkers and some good one-liners – but unfortunately not nearly enough to make the film memorable in the context of the talented filmmaker’s career.

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Comical concept concludes in tragedy

Charles Brickley from Andover, Hampshire England [Highly rated reviewer] , 11/08/2009

This use of a one girl in two stories looked good on the trailer and indeed the film was well acted with good production values. BUT!

Whilst I have not got the heart to trash this well made tale of comedy versus tragedy I must confess that I have seen better Woody Allen films.

Radha Mitchell was excellent as Melinda the girl with a split lifestyle, Jonny Lee Miller was almost on form and Will Ferrell gave some of his best performances ever. It was a plot that failed to convince totally and therefore Woody did not manage to suspend my disbelief.

Again this is another good example of why I hire films, I watch it, I send it back and if I decide I really like it I may get a copy for my shelf.

Worth the money to watch, but I shall not be getting a copy for myself despite the romantic and ravishing Radha.

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