RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / Melinda and Melinda
Melinda and Melinda

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Melinda and Melinda (2005)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
53 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:150

Fresh:80

Rotten:70

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Woody Allen's uneven Melinda and Melinda fails to find neither comedy nor pathos in what seems like a rehash of his previous themes.

Runtime: 1 hr 40 mins

Genre: Dramas

US Box Office: $3,727,614

Synopsis: Woody Allen mixes the tragic with the comic in MELINDA AND MELINDA, a delightful, intelligent look at two versions of the same story. After hearing a tale about a quirky woman who walks in... Woody Allen mixes the tragic with the comic in MELINDA AND MELINDA, a delightful, intelligent look at two versions of the same story. After hearing a tale about a quirky woman who walks in unexpectedly on a dinner party in an apartment in New York City, Sy (Wallace Shawn) expands it into a romantic comedy, while Max (Larry Pine) turns it into an urban tragedy. Allen intercuts between the two retellings, intermingling cause and effect, love and romance, failure and success, as Melinda creates havoc in both fictional worlds. Each story has its own cast: the comedy features Will Ferrell, Amanda Peet, and Josh Brolin; the tragedy stars Chloe Sevigny, Jonny Lee Miller, and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Radha Mitchell is the only repeat actor, playing both Melindas, and she does a tremendous job. Interestingly, the comic section is not a straight laughfest, like Allen's SLEEPERS, ANNIE HALL, or BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, and the more serious part is not nearly as dour as INTERIORS or ANOTHER WOMAN. Instead, Allen, who has been criticized by critics and fans alike for not making more funny films, has created two parallel universes that each combines aspects of comedy and tragedy, resulting in a wonderful, insightful drama. [More]

Starring: Wallace Shawn, Larry Pine, Radha Mitchell, Jonny Lee Miller

Starring: Wallace Shawn, Larry Pine, Radha Mitchell, Jonny Lee Miller, Chloë Sevigny, Will Ferrell, Chjwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Steve Carell, Shalom Harlow, Vanessa Shaw, Josh Brolin

Director: Woody Allen

Director: Woody Allen
Screenwriter: Andy Borowitz, Woody Allen
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Melinda and Melinda Trailer
    >
1 of 1

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Reviews for Melinda and Melinda

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Like a copy of a copy of a Woody Allen movie.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
03/31/05
Josh Bell
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly

Sin City is the most gorgeous digital movie ever made. It represents a stunning leap forward in both the technology of digital cinema and the art of filmmaking.

Full Review Source: San Jose Mercury News | comment 1 Comment
03/31/05
Bruce Newman
Bruce Newman
San Jose Mercury News

A step in the right direction, yes. A masterpiece, no. Still, it's a big step, one that at least bears comparison with much of Mr. Allen's better work.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
03/31/05
Philip Wuntch
Philip Wuntch
Dallas Morning News

Allen once based his career on making mincemeat of the very people Melinda and Melinda dotes upon.

Full Review Source: Orlando Weekly | comment Comment
03/31/05
Ian Grey
Ian Grey
Orlando Weekly

At this point, Allen may be the only guy laughing at his jokes.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
03/31/05
Bill Muller
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic

Allen knows it's foolish to speak of comedy and drama as if they're separate things, so he intermingles them here.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
03/31/05
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Yet another exercise in futility from Woody Allen.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
03/31/05
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

The comic half of the double feature is more wheezy than breezy, and the drama lacks the pulverizing punch of serious art.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
03/31/05
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

Melinda returns Woody Allen to more steady ground; yet, his film still feels like a work completed with one eye closed.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
03/30/05
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
FilmJerk.com

Allen lately has grown tired of complex characters and inventive actors to play them. He appears to be making movies because that's what he's always done, but the love and the ideas and the zip are essentially gone.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
03/27/05
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe

Comic or tragic, a story should be involving. With dreary, self-involved, characters who move around the plots like sleepwalkers, neither one of these stories is.

Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
03/27/05
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

As the title suggests, Melinda and Melinda features two renditions of the same person. Woody Allen would have been smart to scrap them both and start from scratch.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
03/26/05
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

Little more than a failed stunt, a would-be magic trick in which the sleight of hand is all too obvious.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
03/26/05
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Woody Allen breaks his recent slump with Melinda and Melinda, his best and most purely enjoyable film in a decade.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
03/26/05
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

No review available.

comment Comment
03/25/05
Independent

I couldn't buy that two supposedly sophisticated theater people could be so simpleminded about what defines comedy and tragedy. I also couldn't believe in most of the characters, including either version of Melinda.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
03/25/05
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader

Melinda and Melinda is like a single date with a beautiful girl from out-of-town in which not much happens, but you had a good time anyway.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
03/25/05
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews

Melinda and Melinda does have its faults, but it's plainly the work of a master filmmaker.

Full Review Source: CNN.com | comment Comment
03/25/05
Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
CNN.com

This performance will likely be forgotten by the time Oscar season rolls around, but Mitchell is going on my Best Actress list right now.

Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
03/25/05
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

...may be fractured, but (Radha) Mitchell's presence keeps it from becoming schizophrenic.

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
03/25/05
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
all

Latest News for Melinda and Melinda

April 25, 2005: Radha Mitchell to Climb the "Silent Hill" for TriStar Pictures
More...

April 20, 2005: Cusack and Peet Have a Favorite "Martian"
Described by The Hollywood Reporter as "a cross between E.T. and Parenthood" is the upcoming family film "The Martian Child." John Cusack ("High... More...

April 01, 2005: Steve Carell to "Get Smart"?
Andrew Weil of ComingSoon.net had a brief chat with funnyman Steve Carell while visiting the set of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," and here's what the actor had to say... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

75% 75% Sherlock Holmes 26/12
39% 39% The Lovely Bones 26/12
100% 100% The French Kissers 26/12
84% 84% Bright Star 26/12
71% 71% Nowhere Boy 26/12
— Alvin and the Chipmunk… 26/12
11% 11% Did You Hear About the… 26/12
05% 05% Old Dogs 26/12

What’s Hot On RT

New Alice Trailer

New Alice Trailer

Tim Burton returns to the rabbit hole

20 Must-See Films

20 Must-See Films

Your essential Summer Movie Guide

James Cameron

James Cameron

We look at the Avatar director's career

Golden Globes!

Golden Globes!

See who got nominated for the awards

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
64
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
  • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
19
  • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
30
  • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
28
  • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
9
  • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
4
  • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
61
  • Mel Gibson Plans a Mexican Vacation Source: Variety
8
  • New Iron Man 2 Clue Posted Source: Screen Rant
26
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Tomatometer Watch: Will Avatar Live Up To The Hype?
237
  • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
143
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Girlpower Rules Again with Princess at #1
70
  • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
67
  • Awards Tour 2009: Inglourious Basterds Lead Critics Choice Noms
44
  • Awards Tour 2009: Avatar Best Picture at NYFCO!
38
  • Weekly Ketchup: James Cameron Plans a Fantastic Voyage
33
  • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
32
  • The Effects of Where the Wild Things Are
30
  • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
27
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
23
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Melinda and Melinda at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Melinda and Melinda at IGN
  • Melinda and Melinda at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
40 Best Films of the 2000s
40 Best Films of the 2000s External Link

Last week, Moviefone offered us their worst films of the 2000s. Now see their 40 best!

Virtuoso Vistas of The Lovely Bones
Virtuoso Vistas of The Lovely Bones External Link

Techland examines the visual splendor of Peter Jackson's upcoming film.

Worst Hollywood Remakes of the Decade
Worst Hollywood Remakes of the Decade External Link

Movieline gets bravely swept away with the recycled refuse of the 2000s.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 prize packs
Win Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 prize packs External Link

We're giving away a bunch of stuff from the upcoming Squeakquel.

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.