I MELT WITH YOU (2011)

Review by Terrence Kelsey

Oh, woe is me! Woe is me! That should be the name of this new film I MELT WITH YOU and not some reference to the early 80’s MODERN ENGLISH song. Directed by Mark Pellington (ARLINGTON ROAD), IMWY is a pretentious mess that badly wants to be deep and profound akin to Terrence Malick’s TREE OF LIFE (though I admit I didn’t connect much with that film either. I do love Malick’s work overall, however).

Unfortunately, I don’t empathize with any of the four male 40-something leads (played  by Thomas Jane, Rob Lowe, Jeremy Piven and Christian McKay) whatsoever. In fact, this movie and these characters wallowing in drug & alcohol-induced self-pity seriously pissed me off, especially when I think of others (people I personally know and those whom live in dire surrounding all over the world) who are far more appreciative of life and the cards they have been dealt. These gentlemen come across as privileged (dare, I say white middle upper class male) spoiled brats who seem to feel cheated that they didn’t get to have their cake and eat it too.

The basic scenario involves four former college friends who normally get together once every year to catch up, and for this particular gathering (their 25^th anniversary) we discover that a pact the four had made in their supposedly idealistic (more like “young & dumb”) youth now must come into play. That’s all I’m willing to say, since I don’t want to give away any spoilers to any curious seekers still interested in seeing the film, in spite of my personal misgivings.

On the plus side, there are some great picturesque shots. However, I kept thinking I was watching a glorified music video instead of an actual narrative film.  Speaking of the narrative, or the lack thereof, the first half of the film doesn’t really give us a clue of what to expect. It’s mostly scene after scene of these adult male misfits partying it up with cocaine, alcohol and pills, as if they were living it up Hunter S. Thompson style (as portrayed in Terry Gilliam’s FEAR & LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS).

We also have an aural onslaught of classic (and great) suburban angst rock, punk & new wave songs from the 80’s and early 90’s, that while they kept my toes tapping, they didn’t really seem to add much to the story or visuals. It was like listening to songs in your iTunes on random shuffle with the volume turned way up. More annoying was the score, which hits you over the head, especially during the second half, reminding you – the audience member – that you’re supposed to be feeling this particular emotion during a certain scene. This film doesn’t understand the word subtlety.

One performer who was totally underused, and who’s talents were wasted. was actress Carla Gugino (SIN CITY, WATCHMEN). When we are first introduced to her, we have no reason why she’s being shown onscreen early on into the film – we don’t see her again until the 2^nd half, when it becomes clear of what her role (as a Sheriff Deputy) will entail. Still, she’s not given much to do character-wise.

Also wasted is former porn starlet turned indie film actress Sasha Grey, whose sole purpose in her very brief scene is simply to bare her flesh (no surprise there).

I probably would have enjoyed, or at least appreciated, I MELT WITH YOU if it didn’t take itself so seriously. The idea and the pact these characters made to one another could have created an interesting thriller of sorts, and not this ridiculous display of self-loathing. I say to these characters, the filmmakers, and anyone else who empathizes with their alleged plight, “GET OVER YOURSELVES!”