Melinda and Melinda (Dir Woody Allen/2004)
Great concept - confused execution. Four filmmakers discuss
how tragedies and comedies are not mutually exclusive before proceeding to tell
two stories about Melinda (Radha Mitchell). They are the same story initially, but
are told as tragedy and comedy. Melinda interrupts a meal, but as the story
progresses, the chosen genre dictates a different direction. Unfortunately, the
comedy isn’t funny enough (despite a quirky scene, harking back to Woody Allen’s
early comedies, as Will Ferrell struggles with a dressing-gown caught in a door),
while the tragedy doesn’t have the heart to challenge your emotions. The
experimental starting point of Melinda
& Melinda demands your attention – but rather than compare, it simply
becomes two stories with a similar central character. Attempted-suicide (in the
comedy) and murder (in the tragedy) can be comedic or tragic depending on the
tone, but in Melinda & Melinda, it
isn’t clear what tone to settle upon.
Rating: 4/10
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