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Melinda and MelindaStarring Will Ferrell, Jonny Lee Miller, Radha
Mitchell, Amanda Peet, Chloe Sevigny, Larry Pine and Wallace Shawn |
IN SHORT: Two for the arthouse. [Rated PG-13 for Adult Situations involving Sexuality and some Substance Material. minutes]
Before we begin, long time readers already know about Cranky's wretched excuse for a back (for those that don't, all the gruesome details of the how and why are included in the History of Cranky). That wretched excuse decided to go ballistic about two thirds of the way through the Woody Allen's Melinda and Melinda, just as actor Will Ferrell was let loose to prove himself the front runner among actors that could step into the character acting shoes nailed down in the classic Allen repertory. The character written for Ferrell isn't as neurotic as is usual, but everything else we've come of the "Woody Allen" to expect is there. That's about as high a compliment we can pay considering that it isn't Ferrell who carries the film. That would be actress Radha Mitchell as the Melinda of the title, who plays the same character in two different stories concocted by a table full of writers (principally Wallace Shawn and Larry Pine) having lunch. You'll forgive us if we have to fall back on "pain made us forget the details" of the initial nature of their discussion, but it did and we have to.
Simply, Melinda and Melinda contrasts the intrusion of a fine young woman into the lives of a married couple. Whether or not the marriage is strong enough to endure, or whether or not that temptation has anything to do with the individual story is something we'll not tell. Yes, on that point we remember what is what.
On the dramatic side of the equation is pianist Laurel (Chloe Sevigny) and her actor husband Lee (Jonny Lee Miller), Lee is happy to get deodorant commercials. Laurel comes from old money, so all is well in the world until college friend Melinda (Mitchell) shows up in the middle of a dinner party. In the comedic half, balancing the aforementioned Ferrell is Amanda Peet, they being the married pair of Hobie and Susan. Both are neighbors to the fair Melinda and, those two situations play off against each other as the film progresses. What crossed out mind, while we still had a mind to cross, is that in this Allen script the drama outweighs the comedy. Only when Ferrell lets loose do things lighten up a wee bit. [That's also about when the back went seriously bananas. We don't blame Will or Woody].
Both stories, taken individually, would make good films for the arthouse circuit. They are intelligent and adult, with good performances and, unfortunately, a bit lacking in what passes for raucous in the Woody Allen pantheon of humor. All that weight comes to bear on the shoulders of Will Ferrell, and we complimented him enough at the top of the page.
On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to Melinda and Melinda, he would have paid . . .
$6.00
We're going to put this at a dateflick level for despite our medical madies, Melinda and Melinda is a film that falls dead center into our definition of what a dateflick should be. It's just entertaining enough that you won't be wasting your cash. Should you be among those that detest the usual cineplex fare, add a deuce 'cuz Allen has written one for the arthouse crowd.
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