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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "MELINDA AND MELINDA" (2005) (Radha Mitchell, Will Ferrell) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy *None Heavy Minor Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None None None Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Heavy Moderate Heavy Moderate Minor QUICK TAKE: Drama/Comedy: Two playwrights narrate two different tales -- one tragic, the other comedic -- of the same woman's life. PLOT: While having dinner, two playwrights, Sy (WALLACE SHAWN) and Max (LARRY PINE), debate whether life is comic or tragic. Accordingly, they decide to make up a tale of a young woman, Melinda (RADHA MITCHELL) and show her story -- one done dramatically, the other comically. The first has Melinda suddenly showing up at a dinner party held by her longtime friend and music teacher Laurel (CHLOË SEVIGNY) and her husband, struggling actor Lee (JONNY LEE MILLER). Also in attendance is the ladies' other close friend Cassie (BROOKE SMITH), her husband Doug (ANDY BOROWITZ) and others. Lee isn't happy that Melinda, who lost her husband and kids due to her adulterous ways, will be staying with them. Laurel and Cassie, however, are pleased to see her and want to set her up with a dentist, but she ends up falling for composer and cocktail party pianist Ellis (CHIWETEL EJIOFOR). Sy's comedic story has the suicidal Melinda showing up at a dinner party held by her old friend and aspiring filmmaker Susan (AMANDA PEET) and her struggling actor husband Hobie (WILL FERRELL). Also in attendance is Susan's producer, Steve (DAVID AARON BAKER), and various others. Having caught her husband having an affair with one of his models, Melinda thus needs a place to stay, which is okay with Hobie who's instantly fascinated by her. Thus, when Susan tries to set up Melinda with rich dentist Greg (JOSH BROLIN), Hobie becomes jealous and tries to undermine the relationship before it even begins. As the playwrights continue their respective stories about the same woman but in different circumstances, their tragic and comedic tales begin to meld together as various characters and developments that show there's a fine line between the two ways of looking at life. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Unless they're fans of someone in the cast or director Woody Allen, it doesn't seem too likely. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For adult situations involving sexuality, and some substance material. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: WALLACE SHAWN and LARRY PINE play the two playwrights who playfully debate whether life is tragic or comic and then concoct their own versions about the same woman to prove their point. RADHA MITCHELL plays the despondent woman in both stories who's briefly suicidal over losing her family (for different reasons), drinks, smokes, and eventually finds herself attracted to different men. CHLOË SEVIGNY plays her music teacher friend who takes her in and becomes upset with Lee over having an affair. She drinks some. JONNY LEE MILLER plays her husband, a struggling actor who doesn't want Melinda staying with them, mostly because that will interfere with him having an affair with another woman. He's also fascinated with Cassie being pregnant and the thoughts of having sex with her, and appears to be an alcoholic (or potential one). BROOKE SMITH plays Laurel and Melinda's pregnant, longtime friend who wants Melinda to be happy and thus tries setting her up with a man. AMANDA PEET plays Melinda's friend in the comedy version of the story, a distracted director who has an affair with her producer. WILL FERRELL plays her husband, a struggling actor who finds himself smitten with Melinda and then trying to sabotage any budding relationship she might have with another man. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR plays a composer and cocktail party pianist who gets involved with Melinda only to break her heart by then seeing her best friend. JOSH BROLIN plays a rich dentist who wants to date Melinda but must put up with Hobie trying to undermine that. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this dramedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of some expletives, while various religious and colorful phrases are also uttered. Various instances of sexually related dialogue are present, a couple is seen having sex in bed (with some sounds and slight movement under the sheets, but no nudity) and another couple makes out (all involving extramarital affairs). A man wants to have sex with a woman who initially seems willing, but nothing ultimately happens between. Some women are seen in somewhat revealing attire that shows cleavage and other skin. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while tense family material includes those affairs and other failing or failed marriages and some brief child custody matters. Various characters drink (some quite a bit, while one also takes many prescription pills), one smokes and some people have to stop others from committing suicide (mostly played in a light fashion), resulting in some brief struggling. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Lee, Laurel and others have wine at their place. When Melinda arrives at Lee and Laurel's place, she says she could use a drink (champagne or wine, but says what she'd really like is single malt scotch). Various people have drinks at Susan and Hobie's place where a guy says he'd like a single malt scotch. Melinda states that she took 28 sleeping pills and appears a bit out of it. When someone says she needs coffee, she says she's allergic and asks for vodka. Melinda has some wine. Lee drinks and his young lover says he shouldn't drink so early in the day. Melinda has wine. Melinda thinks she's fat and has eaten anything in days (but drinks booze and takes prescription pills). Lee, Laurel and others have drinks or wine at a party. Melinda has more wine at the same party, with Ellis coming into the room and pouring himself a drink. Hobie, Susan, Melinda and her date have wine. When they return home, Melinda asks her date if he wants to come up for a drink. He asks if she has tequila for making a margarita. Later, when Hobie and Susan hear Melinda scream (from what turns out to be finding a tick on her), Hobie thinks the date is trying to rape her after spiking her margarita. Ellis and Melinda have wine. Melinda tells Ellis that she killed her husband and that she was out of her mind at the time on drugs, but then amends that to mean prescription pills. Lee states that he lost his job because he couldn't hold his liquor. Laurel, Ellis and Melinda have wine with dinner. Lee drinks at home by himself. Hobie and Melinda have wine and she asks if he should be having so much without having eaten. Miscellaneous people have drinks. Hobie, Melinda and her new boyfriend have wine. Melinda has some wine. There's more talk of Melinda taking prescription pills. Hobie and his date have wine and he later pours them drinks back at his place. Sy and his friends have drinks at a restaurant. BLOOD/GORE Melinda acts like she's going to vomit, but never does (at least as far as we see/know). DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Lee isn't happy that Melinda is going to be staying with them. We hear that Melinda had an affair and thus lost her husband and custody of her kids. Lee and his young female student passionately kiss in his place, with him believing Laurel will be gone for a while. After a pause, they kiss some more before they hear someone at the door and the girl hides. Hobie and his friend Walt take Melinda off to the race track to place bets (viewers opposed to gambling may not like that scene). Hobie lies to Susan about having taken Melinda to the race track. Lee tells Cassie that he's never slept with a pregnant woman before. Cassie replies that it's like "screwing a fat person," but Lee wonders if her husband would mind loaning her out for one night. Cassie says Lee could "knock up" Laurel and then see what it's like having sex with her in each trimester. The term "do it" is used sexually, and Lee then asks Cassie's husband what it's like. He replies that it's like making love to the loser of weight watchers. A man states that he isn't religious following his wife's untimely death (sometime after her death -- he's not grieving). Some viewers may not like that comment. Hobie, smitten with Melinda, is against her dating another guy and acts like a jerk during their double date to the man's oceanfront house. Hobie uses the term "retarded" when describing a character in a movie Susan's going to make (but it's not clear if that character is handicapped or he's just using the term as an adjective for stupid, but not referring to a person with such disabilities). Melinda tells Ellis that she killed her husband and that she was out of her mind at the time on drugs, but then amends that to mean prescription pills. She then adds that her lawyers made her premeditated murder seem like temporary insanity. Laurel lies to Lee about having dinner with Ellis. Hobie returns home, hears sexual sounds from the bedroom and then walks in to see Susan's producer on top of her, having sex (under the covers with some movement, but no nudity). Laurel and Ellis end up having an affair despite the latter being involved with Melinda. Some viewers might not like a joke that Hobie makes about never voting against school prayer again (after a politically conservative but sexually liberal woman wants to have sex with him). FRIGHTENING SCENES Hobie and Susan hear Melinda screaming, but it's just from her finding a tick on her body (we don't see it, but there's talk about it being under her skin). Hobie briefly thinks perhaps her date is trying to rape her (but that's all played in a light fashion). When Melinda learns that Laurel and Ellis are having a fling, she says she wants to close her eyes and never wake up. She then goes out to the balcony and acts as if she's going to jump, with Ellis grabbing, struggling with and finally pinning her to floor out there (played in a light fashion). Hobie's despondent date says she's going out the window (meaning a suicide jump) and he has to grab and stop her. They then struggle, with her bashing him over the head with some glass object (also played in a light fashion). GUNS/WEAPONS We see footage from an old movie where a man pulls a gun on another man, but then partially falls back through some sort of backdrop. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Nuts" (crazy), "Frickin,'" "Act the hell out of it," "Knock her up" (get pregnant), "What the hell," "Don't be such a crab," "Retarded," "Nothing but hell," "What the hell are you doing?" and "Shut up." Melinda states that she took 28 sleeping pills and appears a bit out of it. When someone says she needs coffee, she says she's allergic and asks for vodka. Hobie uses the term "retarded" when describing a character in a movie Susan's going to make (but it's not clear if that character is handicapped or he's just using the term as an adjective for stupid, but not referring to a person with such disabilities). When Melinda learns that Laurel and Ellis are having a fling, she says she wants to close her eyes and never wake up. She then goes out to the balcony and acts as if she's going to jump, with Ellis grabbing, struggling with and finally pinning her to floor out there (played in a light fashion). Hobie's despondent date says she's going out the window (meaning a suicide jump) and he has to grab and stop her. They then struggle, with her bashing him over the head with some glass object (also played in a light fashion). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 2 slang terms for sex ("screwing" and "do it"), 4 hells, 13 uses of "God," 7 of "My God," 4 each of "Jesus" and "Oh God," 3 of "G-damn," 2 of "Christ" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes," "Oh Jesus" and "Oh my God." SEX/NUDITY Cassie, who's pregnant, shows a little cleavage. Hobie tells Susan that she's dressed sexily. Melinda shows a little cleavage. Melinda states that she told her lover that they should confine their passion to the local motels, rather than having her move in with him. Melinda states that she caught her husband in bed with one of his models. Melinda says that her husband couldn't bear the thought of having sex with a pregnant woman for nine months. Hobie comes on to Susan, and when she rebukes his advances, he complains that they used to make love all of the time, but that now there's always an excuse on her part. Lee and his young female student passionately kiss in his place, with him believing Laurel will be gone for a while. After a pause, they kiss some more before they hear someone at the door and the girl hides. Melinda states that men find women sexier in casual rather than formal or business attire. Susan shows some cleavage. Talking about her husband, Melinda states that he knew how to touch her, meaning physically with his hands. She then adds that she needs lots of physical intimacy, creatively and often. Melinda's robe is open and we see glimpses of part of her black bra, as well as some cleavage. Melinda states that men like to think that there's some sort of hot payoff at the end of a date. Lee tells Cassie that he's never slept with a pregnant woman before. Cassie replies that it's like "screwing a fat person," but Lee wonders if her husband would mind loaning her out for one night. Cassie says Lee could "knock up" Laurel and then see what it's like having sex with her in each trimester. The term "do it" is used sexually, and Lee then asks Cassie's husband what it's like. He replies that it's like making love to the loser of weight watchers. Melinda shows a lot of thigh in her slit dress as she sits and chats with Ellis. Susan shows some cleavage in a tank-top. Susan states that Melinda's date probably has her in bed by now. Melinda shows a little cleavage. Laurel tells Melinda that the latter was the first in their group of friends to sleep with a man. Melinda then comments on her reputation for being post-modern in the bedroom. Laurel then states that she's only made love to one man in her life. Hobie states that his marriage is in decline and that they barely sleep together (meaning sex). He adds that the last time they did, she just lay there. Hobie returns home, hears sexual sounds from the bedroom and then walks in to see Susan's producer on top of her, having sex (under the covers with some movement, but no nudity). We then see Susan holding the sheet up over her chest. Hobie comments on a kind of woman that makes love to you on a business call. Melinda's new boyfriend then sets up Hobie on a blind date with a Republican woman who appeared in Playboy. Hobie states that he can't bear the thought that Melinda might be making love to another man. After his robe gets caught in Melinda's door, Hobie runs to his place to get scissors to cut it out and he's wearing just a shirt and boxer shorts. Melinda shows some cleavage. Laurel confronts Lee over another woman's keys she found in their place, with her stating, "You slept with someone here." He then says that just because he had a woman there (talking) doesn't mean they slept together. Laurel and Ellis end up having an affair despite the latter being involved with Melinda. Commenting on his politically conservative date and Playboy model (who shows some cleavage), Hobie states that it's hard to believe a Republican could be that sexual. Melinda's date then jokes with the innuendo, "I bet she could put your portfolio in order." Later, Hobie and that woman discuss being liberal, politically or in the bedroom, with Hobie saying he's left-wing in the latter category, and the woman saying she's a radical in the same place. Hobie then jokes that he's out of practice in such regards and is ready for "a little affirmative action," with her replying that they should go back to his place and that she hasn't made love in a while either. Back at his place, she shows a lot of cleavage, but then gets emotionally caught up in the past event of her best friend stealing her fiancé away from her and bedding him (all while Hobie wants to have sex, but can't quite get around to saying that outright, although he implies it quite a bit -- nothing ultimately happens in such regards). Hobie has a dream where he repeats, "Kiss me." He later tells Melinda that it was about "making love to you." They then briefly kiss. SMOKING Melinda smokes at least 7 times. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Melinda had an affair and thus lost her husband and custody of her kids. Melinda states that she caught her husband in bed with one of his models. Hobie comes on to Susan, and when she rebukes his advances, he complains that they used to make love all of the time, but that now there's always an excuse on her part. A man states that he isn't religious following his wife's untimely death (sometime after her death -- he's not grieving). Melinda tells Ellis that she killed her husband and that she was out of her mind at the time on drugs, then amends that to mean prescription pills. She then adds that her lawyers made her premeditated murder seem like temporary insanity. Melinda briefly comments on her mom killing herself sometime in the past. Laurel states that she's not happy in her marriage to Lee. Hobie states that his marriage is in decline and that they barely sleep together (meaning sex). He adds that the last time they did, she just lay there. Hobie discovers that Susan is cheating on him, but rather than being mad or sad, he's happy since it means he can pursue Melinda. Laurel confronts Lee over another woman's keys she found in their place, with her stating, "You slept with someone here." He then says that just because he had a woman there (talking) doesn't mean they slept together. Melinda learns that she won't have any more contact with her kids (that are under 18). TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The question of whether life is tragic, comedic or a combination of both. How people view the world. Susan states that her next film is titled "The Castration Sonata." Suicide -- there are references to it and some lightly played attempts at committing it. We hear that Melinda had an affair and thus lost her husband and custody of her kids. Melinda states that men find women sexier in casual rather than formal or business attire. Melinda thinks she's fat and has eaten anything in days (but drinks booze and takes prescription pills). A man states that he isn't religious following his wife's untimely death (sometime after her death -- he's not grieving). Hobie discovers that Susan is cheating on him, but rather than being mad or sad, he's happy since it means he can pursue Melinda. The comment that life is messy. VIOLENCE We see footage from an old movie where a man pulls a gun on another man, but then partially falls back through some sort of backdrop. When Melinda learns that Laurel and Ellis are having a fling, she says she wants to close her eyes and never wake up. She then goes out to the balcony and acts as if she's going to jump, with Ellis grabbing, struggling with and finally pinning her to floor out there (played in a light fashion). Hobie's despondent date says she's going out the window (meaning a suicide jump) and he has to grab and stop her. They then struggle, with her bashing him over the head with some glass object (also played in a light fashion). Reviewed March 2, 2005 / Posted March 23, 2005

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