Melinda and Melinda

Melinda and Melinda is a 2004 American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film is set in Manhattan and stars Radha Mitchell as the protagonist Melinda, in two storylines; one comic, one tragic. The film began a limited release in the United States on March 18, 2005.
==Synopsis==
The premise of the film is stated by a group of four writers conversing over dinner at the beginning of the film. The question arises: Is life naturally comic or tragic? One of the four proposes a simple story (a distraught woman knocks on a door and disrupts a dinner party) and the two prominent playwrights in the group begin telling their versions of this story, one being comic and one tragic.
==Cast==
*Radha Mitchell as Melinda Robicheaux
*Chloë Sevigny as Laurel
*Jonny Lee Miller as Lee
*Will Ferrell as Hobie
*Amanda Peet as Susan
*Chiwetel Ejiofor as Ellis Moonsong
*Wallace Shawn as Sy
*Josh Brolin as Greg Earlinger
*Vinessa Shaw as Stacey Fox
*[[Steve Carell as Walt
*[[Arija Bareikis as Sally Oliver
*Matt Servitto as Jack Oliver
*[[Zak Orth as Peter
*[[Brooke Smith as Cassie
*Daniel Sunjata as Billy Wheeler
*Larry Pine as Max
*Andy Borowitz as Doug
Radha Mitchell plays Melinda in both versions. Chloë Sevigny, Jonny Lee Miller, and Chiwetel Ejiofor star with her in the tragedy, while Will Ferrell and Amanda Peet star with her in the comedy. Steve Carell has a small part as Ferrell's character's friend.
==Critical reception==
The film received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes lists a 51% positive score, based on 144 reviews. Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 54 out of 100, based on 40 reviews. Leonard Maltin gave the film two stars, calling it "meandering,” with "echoes... of earlier, better Allen movies".
==Box office[edit]==
Melinda and Melinda opened on March 18, 2005, in one New York City cinema, where it grossed $74,238 in its first three days, the 21st highest limited release opening in American history. In weekend two, it expanded to 95 theatres to gross $740,618, seeing its per screen average drop to $7,795.
Overseas, it grossed an additional $16,259,545, bringing its worldwide total to $20,085,825.
==Soundtrack==
Melinda and Melinda is the soundtrack from the 2004 film of the same name directed by Woody Allen. It mostly features a selection of swing music and big band tracks, which is typical for Allen's films.
Category:2004 films
Category:English-language films
Category:2004 comedy-drama films
Category:Films directed by Woody Allen
Category:Films set in Manhattan
Category:Films with screenplays by Woody Allen
Category:Films produced by Letty Aronson
Category:Fox Searchlight Pictures films
Category:Films shot in New York City
Category:2004 comedy films
Category:2004 drama films
Category:Rated PG-13