| Melvin Goes to Dinner | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Bob Odenkirk |
| Written by | Michael Blieden |
| Based on | Phyro-Giants! by Michael Blieden |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | Michael Blieden Stephanie Courtney Annabelle Gurwitch Matt Price David Cross Maura Tierney |
| Music by | Michael Penn |
| Distributed by | Arrival Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $4,168[2] |
Melvin Goes to Dinner is a 2003American film adaptation of Michael Blieden's stage playPhyro-Giants!, directed byBob Odenkirk in his directorial debut. Blieden wrote the screenplay from his stage play, and he also stars in the film (as he did in theLos Angeles stage production),[3] along withStephanie Courtney, Matt Price andAnnabelle Gurwitch. The film premiered at the 2003Slamdance Film Festival.[4]
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.
In addition to the directorBob Odenkirk acting in the role of Keith, a number of notable people appeared in minor roles in the film, includingJenna 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 uncreditedJack Black andMelora Walters. AdditionallyDaisy Gardner,Marc Evan Jackson,Ron Lynch,Annie Mumolo,Joe Nunez,Bill Odenkirk, theSklar Brothers,Derek Waters,Suzanne Whang, andKristen Wiig appear as extras.
Michael Penn wrote the music for the film.[5] The film won the Audience Award at the 2003South by Southwest Film Festival[6] and the Best Picture and Best Ensemble Awards at thePhoenix Film Festival.[7]
The movie uses many actors who are mainliners in other television productions, such as Odenkirk's former Mr. Show co-starDavid 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 ashort film that was included on theMelvin Goes to Dinner DVD release,The Frank International Film Festival. It portrayed the screening ofMelvin 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]
OnRotten Tomatoes,Melvin Goes to Dinner has an approval rating of 100% based on 12 reviews.[10]
Marjorie Baumgarten ofThe 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]