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Melvin Goes to Dinner
Melvin Goes to Dinner
	Film poster
Directed by	Bob Odenkirk
Written by	Michael Blieden
Based on	Phyro-Giants!; by Michael Blieden
Produced by	Naomi Odenkirk; DJ Paul; Jeff Sussman;
Starring	Michael Blieden; Stephanie Courtney; Annabelle Gurwitch; Matt Price; David Cross; Maura Tierney
Music by	Michael Penn
Distributed by	Arrival Pictures
Release date	January 2003 (Slamdance);
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$4,168

Melvin Goes to Dinner is a 2003 American film adaptation of Michael Blieden's stage play Phyro-Giants!, directed by Bob Odenkirk in his directorial debut. Blieden wrote the screenplay from his stage play, and he also stars in the film (as he did in the Los Angeles stage production),^[3] along with Stephanie Courtney, Matt Price and Annabelle Gurwitch. The film premiered at the 2003 Slamdance Film Festival.^[4]

Plot

Former medical student Melvin has dropped out and now works in a planning office of an unnamed city. The office supervisor is his older sister, who "mothers" him instead of pushing him to work harder. Melvin accidentally makes telephone contact with an old friend, and they decide to meet for dinner that evening. The friend arrives early for drinks with a female friend; by the appointed time, four people are involved, each connected somehow to at least one of the others. The evening passes in a leisurely dinner with much conversation, with the connections among the parties revealed throughout the evening.

Cast

Michael Blieden as Melvin
Stephanie Courtney as Alex
Annabelle Gurwitch as Sarah
Matt Price as Joey
David Cross as Seminar Leader
Maura Tierney as Leslie
Kathleen Roll as Waitress
Jacqueline Heinze as Rita
Laura Kightlinger as Laura
Fred Armisen as Vesa
Jerry Minor as Solly
James Gunn as Scott

In addition to the director Bob Odenkirk acting in the role of Keith, a number of notable people appeared in minor roles in the film, including Jenna Fischer, B. J. Porter, Tucker Smallwood, Wendy Rae Fowler, Jason Nash, Scott Aukerman, Scott Adsit, Nathan Odenkirk (son of Bob and Naomi Odenkirk), Allan Havey, as well as the uncredited Jack Black and Melora Walters. Additionally Daisy Gardner, Marc Evan Jackson, Ron Lynch, Annie Mumolo, Joe Nunez, Bill Odenkirk, the Sklar Brothers, Derek Waters, Suzanne Whang, and Kristen Wiig appear as extras.

Production

Michael Penn wrote the music for the film.^[5] The film won the Audience Award at the 2003 South by Southwest Film Festival^[6] and the Best Picture and Best Ensemble Awards at the Phoenix Film Festival.^[7]

The movie uses many actors who are mainliners in other television productions, such as Odenkirk's former Mr. Show co-star David Cross as a self-help seminar leader.^[8] However, the main characters are all played by the stage actors who performed in the Los Angeles stage production on which the screenplay is based.^[5]

Odenkirk also directed a short film that was included on the Melvin Goes to Dinner DVD release, The Frank International Film Festival. It portrayed the screening of Melvin Goes to Dinner at a (fictional) film festival organized by a cinephile named Frank (Fred Armisen) who hosts the festival at the home he shares with his mother.^[9]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, Melvin Goes to Dinner has an approval rating of 100% based on 12 reviews.^[10]

Marjorie Baumgarten of The Austin Chronicle wrote Odenkirk "shows real skill with the gradual manner in which he allows this story to evolve", and that the "movie should inspire viewers to call up old friends, order a bottle of wine, and talk the night away."^[8]

References

^ "Slamdance Stays True To Its Roots". January 24, 2003. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
^ "Melvin Goes to Dinner (2003) - Box Office Mojo". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
^ Melvin Goes to Dinner DVD, Bonus Features section, accessed 30 August 2009
^ "Slamdance Stays True To Its Roots". IndieWire. January 24, 2003. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Bob Odenkirk on directing "Melvin Goes to Dinner"". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^ "SXSW Gives "Sexless" and "Happy Here and Now" Awards for 10th Anniversary Film Fest". IndieWire. March 13, 2003. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^ "Awards". Phoenix Film Festival. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Baumgarten, Marjorie (July 11, 2003). "Melvin Goes to Dinner". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^ "Melvin Goes to Dinner". dvdjournal.com. DVD Journal. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
^ "Melvin Goes to Dinner". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 27, 2022.