Melinda and Melinda (2004)

While dining out with friends, Sy suggests the difficulty of separating comedy from tragedy. To illustrate his point, he tells his guests two parallel stories about Melinda ; both versions have the same basic elements, but one take on her state of affairs leans toward levity, while the other is full of anguish. Each story involves Melinda coping with a recent divorce through substance abuse while beginning a romantic relationship with a close friend's husband.

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

What to watch after Melinda and Melinda

• Anything Else (2003) — Same feel: complex, cynical
• Alice (1990) — Same feel: complex, philosophical
• New York Stories (1989) — Same feel: complex, dramatic
• Postcards from the Edge (1990) — Two steps away in the credits
• Hollywood Ending (2002) — Woody Allen directed both
• You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) — Same feel: cynical, dramatic