Melvin Goes To Dinner (DVD)
Written by: Michael Blieden
Directed by: Bob Odenkirk
Starring: Michael Blieden, Stephanie Courtney, Matt Price, Annabelle Gurwitch, Jack Black, David Cross

I had heard of this excellent movie some time ago, thanks to frequent visits to bobanddavid.com, the “homepage” of sorts of Bob Odenkirk, David Cross and other various members and friends of the comedy team that put together Mr. Show, one of (if not the) best sketch comedy show of all time.

With the overall failure of Run Ronnie Run, something led me to believe that this film would end up likewise, as if the stain and frustration of RRR would carry over, that Bob Odenkirk’s type of comedy simply doesn’t translate to film, and was pleasantly surprised to find likewise. Well, er, not totally. Melvin Goes to Dinner is for the most part very unlike what you’d expect from Bob. It is a somewhat arty and simple movie about exactly what the title says: Melvin Goes to Dinner. Written by Michael Blieden (Melvin), it comes across as a play, and when I found out it actually was a play before I wasn’t surprised. The film all takes place at the dinner table, and is carried by the strength and interest in the discussion the 4 characters have. The film also curiously and to its credit, is shown out of sequence, creating interest and allowing small pieces of the stories they tell to come back around again and be re-examined. Also helping the film is several ‘flashback’ sequences as they tell specific stories that happened either earlier that night or long ago. Each of these segments is equally enjoyable as the more theoretical and philosophical conversations that don’t require any more visuals than close-up shots of faces or hands holding wine glasses.

Two of the flashback scenes involve cameos from cult favorites David Cross and Jack Black. David plays an annoying and forceful leader of a seminar where he employs cult-like tactics to push his program, and Jack Black is his usual self as a mental patient who believes he is the Creatress of the Universe trapped on Earth because he fell of his pterodactyl. These scenes are easily the funniest of the film. This isn’t to take away from the talent or comedic talents of the rest of the cast, but more because the rest of the film isn’t necessarily meant to be funny. The stories shared at the table are realistic and honest discussions of things most people can relate to: relationships and infidelity, religion, aging, and the little and almost insignificant fears we all have. No filler sequences about the food or the place. This isn’t “My Dinner With Andre”. There is no comparison. Most people will probably see more similarities to a Richard Linklater art film than anything else. A few of these discussions could have been rotoscoped and placed into “Waking Life”. But I am aided in thinking of this way as the menus and cover artwork have the characters drawn like a comic book. And even though I am yet to see it, this movie is to a degree what I might expect from the upcoming short film “Coffee and Cigarettes”.

There isn’t much more to say of Melvin Goes to Dinner.There are some other minor plot points that tie the film together that best remain unmentioned, otherwise too much would be given away. Definitely pick this one up for rental.

DVD extras include 2 sets of commentaries from the always funny Bob Odenkirk and other cast members. — Goon

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