In the comic part, Melinda (Radha Mitchell) interrupts
her neighbors Susan (Amanda Peet) and her husband Hobie's (Will Ferrell)
dinner party. Susan is a filmmaker and Hobie is an actor. Susan is trying
to convince a wealthy financier to invest two million dollars to produce
her new film while Hobie falls madly in love with Melinda. But Melinda
is attracted to a charming musician Ellis (Chiwetel Ejiofor). But when
he meets Laurel they start a love affair which sends Melinda into a
deep depression.
Veteran actor, director Woody Allen skillfully frames
two storylines inside one film. He has created a memorable film with
Radha Mitchell in compelling dual roles. Even though he flip flops,
back and forth between the serious and funny scenarios, his ability
to spin a romantic tale of adultery and heartbreaks is amazing. Sometimes
the two storylines seems to bleed into each other and at the end of
the film, the storylines becomes an interwoven single mesh that make
the audience definitely feel at length, a twinge of pathos. His concoction
of comic and tragic depth of the film is pretty good. Woody Allen fans
will love the movie and casual moviegoers might enjoy it.
The Aussie beauty Radha Mitchell plays the dual roles
of Melinda with charisma. She presents a beautiful performance in both
the roles. Her ability to act with high intensity is the success of
this film. Chiwetel Ejiofor's performance is also good. He portrays
the selfishness of the character very well and has made the character
loveable and likeable. Will Ferrell as a lovesick, helpless actor does
justice to his role.
"Melinda and Melinda " is full of entertaining vignettes,
powerful enough to make the audience laugh as well as feel sympathetic.
It may be difficult to classify the film as a comedy or a tragedy but
definitely it is not boring.
We rate this movie GOOD.
