While out to dinner, four friends discuss comedy vs tragedy as a part of life. Two of them, both playwrights, decide to tell the story of the same person, Melinda. One will tell it as a comedy, the other as a tragedy.Clever, original comedy-drama, written and directed by Woody Allen. Quite profound and thought-provoking in how it examines a story, and life in general, from two angles. Great work by Radha Mitchell as Melinda (and Melinda).

Finally got to see this gem. As a film, I found it very interesting to watch for technical and directing reasons. I counted one take that was a minute and a-half long of walking through down a street in the city. I've always admired the way Woody Allen can use these long takes to such great advantage. And I admire the actors for managing to pull them off. As I slowly get through the entire Woody Allen library, one by one, I found this film to be a little too Woody Allen a times. Again, someone is going to be introduced to a dentist or a doctor named 'Sy Rubenstein," 'Sol Eplestein' or Juda, or Noah... The whole New York Jewish thing is so predictable in his films. Also, again the dialogue which is just not how people speak - Not even in New York. Will Ferrel's character was like listening to Woody Allen in Annie Hall, except the lines were delivered by someone else. Some of the gags were very good though. Over all I thought the performance were well done, all around. Thought everyone was well suited for the character and they all did a great job. Glad to have it in my Woody Allen collection.

Sometimes Woody Allen hits, and sometimes he misses.Mostly he hits, and for a man who has given us so many films, and so many wonderful ones, it seems wrong somehow to criticize his misses. But this is one.Melinda and Melinda is the same basic situation shown as both a comedy and a tragedy as writers discuss the value of both as they eat at a restaurant.Melinda (Radha Mitchell) is a beautiful young woman who shows up during a dinner party. In one scenario, she shows up bedraggled as a college friend; in the other, she's a neighbor. We see how she changes the lives of those around her.The structure of the movie for me was the main problem. I would have preferred something where each story was told separately instead of at the same time, which was confusing. Also, for me, anyway, the "comedy" wasn't comic enough and was much less interesting.The tragedy/drama was much more compelling, and in itself would have made a good movie.Will Ferrell plays the Woody Allen role, and I personally hate the imitation. I know it's a common gimmick, but I'd rather they just say the lines, which are funny, without being Woody. The rest of the cast includes Chloe Sevigny, Jonny Lee Miller, Amanda Peet, and Brooke Smith. Everyone did a good job. As someone already pointed out, with the presence of Mitchell, it did seem to be a Woody-Mia story.It would have been interesting to see both stories separately, as I said, with the comedy coming first. The tragedy would perhaps then have seemed funny in spots because of the difference, and therefore making the same statement: in life, situations hold both humor and drama; sometimes it's all in the perception.

"Comic or tragic, the most important thing to do is to enjoy life while you can. Because we only go round once, and when it's over, it's over. And, perfect cardiogram or not, when you least expect it, it could end like (snaps fingers) that."The general opinion about Melinda & Melinda is pretty mixed. I fully expected this to be one of Allen's weaker movies, but I ended up enjoying the heck out of it. I don't know if my enjoyment was because of my recent infatuation with Radha Mitchell, or if the movie really was just that good. Whatever the reason, I'm convinced that this movie is sorely underrated. A group of friends sits at a table at a restaurant, and listens to two versions of a story; one comic, and the other tragic. The stories are both played out with completely different actors; save for the character of Melinda (played by Radha Mitchell), who arrives unexpectedly in the middle of a dinner party in both stories. I know that may sound a little confusing, in a movie that questions whether the essence of life is comic or tragic, it works well.Three complaints: some of the humor was hit-and-miss, the script was a little too unfocused to communicate the themes of comedy and tragedy in a way that presented a totally focused point, and Ferrell didn't have a perfect handle on the "Woody Allen role" (though I can't really think of who could have done it better).  Those are the only less- than-favorable comments that I have to make. I thought the film as a whole was a combination of a great cast and smart writing, and those are the main things I look for in anything Allen directs. This is a traditional Woody Allen movie. More Annie Hall than Match Point. Which means it's very verbose, focused on a specific type of people that you only find in New York City, and it has his trademark humor. I would hesitate to recommend this to an Allen novice, but if you know what you're getting into and you "get it", then you might enjoy Melinda & Melinda as much as I did.