Melinda And Melinda (2004)

23 out of 27 people found the following review helpful:

Still the same old story...

bgarcez from United Kingdom, 3rd April, 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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11 out of 12 people found the following review helpful:

Some great one liners

Film reveiwer from London, England, 12th May, 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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12 out of 17 people found the following review helpful:

Worthwhile to Watch

blowski from London, 26th April, 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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10 out of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Another good Allen effort

McClennan from , 11th August, 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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Trouble sleeping, watch this film.

ChelseaC from , 9th March, 2010

I thought this movie seemed promising but it was just dull. It had a clever concept but lacked structure. I'm writing this review a month after I saw this movie and I'd forgotten that i'd even seen it. In fact I remember falling a sleep twice whilst watching it, in the daytime.

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GOOD TIME IN NYC

kazeykazy from , 26th February, 2010

A fun film if you just don't worry about keeping track of who's with who and where...just sit back and enjoy the architecture and the artiness and the fun they have - nothing too serious!

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Going through the emotions

Oldbloke from from Sidmouth, 23rd February, 2010

Writers discussing tragedy and comedy over a drink interpret an overheard story in different ways. The story concerns title character Melinda interrupting a dinner party. We see two versions of the same story, one broadly comic but far from hilarious, one vaguely tragic but only by Manhattan standards. Despite a quality cast, who do nothing wrong this is definitely Woody on autopilot. Everything about it seems tired and uninspiring, like someone deliberately trying to copy his style. Skip it.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review helpful:

Comical concept concludes in tragedy

Charles Brickley from Andover, Hampshire England, 11th August, 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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