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      Melvin and Howard

      R Released Sep 19, 1980 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy Drama List
      92% 24 Reviews Tomatometer 60% 1,000+ Ratings Audience Score When luckless dreamer Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) rescues a grizzled, half-dead man (Jason Robards) from the desert, he's skeptical of the man's claim that he's actually reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. But in the wake of Hughes' death a decade later, a will appears naming Melvin the recipient of $156 million, and a media circus ensues. Accused of forgery, Melvin vigorously maintains his innocence despite a strong intuition that he'll never see any of the money. Read More Read Less
      Melvin and Howard

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      Critics Consensus

      A spirited character study and clear-eyed treatise of the American Dream, Melvin and Howard hits the jackpot with its lovable cast and director Jonathan Demme's humanism.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Alec B As with all Demme movies the characters are observed in such wonderful details. All of those quick little close-ups of the cast (especially Steenburgen) really get you to empathize with with them. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/10/24 Full Review william k Likable comedy-drama is endearing in its sympathetic slice-of-the-life depiction of lower-middle-class Americana, made in good humor and with a great cast of performers. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review dave s Melvin and Howard, an early offering from director Jonathan Demme, starts off strong but eventually noodles away into no man's land as it documents in meticulous detail the rather dull and uneventful live of its anti-hero, Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat). In the compelling opening segment, Melvin finds a disheveled and injured man on the side of the road who claims to be Howard Hughes (Jason Robards). After they go their separate ways, the film focuses solely on Melvin, a likable loser who has relationship troubles, employment problems and far too many dealings with repo companies. Had the film simply jumped to Hughes death years later and dealt with the legal issues surrounding the validity of his will it would have been a much more compelling experience. As it is, it feels more like a ‘whatever happened to' follow-up story for Le Mat's character from American Graffiti. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member As with all Demme movies the characters are observed in such wonderful details. All of those quick little close-ups of the cast (especially Steenburgen) really get you to empathize with with them. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Tom M Mary Steenburgen is wonderful and deserved the Oscar. Unfortunately Le Mat's Melvin is written as such an idiot and loser that the movie is tough to get through. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/12/21 Full Review Audience Member Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) rescues a grizzled, half-dead man (Jason Robards) from the desert after riding his motorcycle. This old geyser claims he's Howard Hughes, yes that Howard Hughes. Melvin's very skeptical of the man's claim. Melvin isn't doing so hot these days; he gets fired from his job, his truck gets repossessed, and his wife Lynda (Mary Steenburgen) ends up leaving him The crazy thing is that a decade later a will appears naming Melvin the recipient of $156 million! As you'd expect a media circus ensues. So he's still having a string of bad luck despite this inheritance naming 16 beneficiaries. This was believed to be a true story since the book was published. Several courts actually ruled it wasn't despite lack of verification. Melvin was even accused of forgery worried he wouldn't see any of the money. Truth be told I'm surprised there isn't that much Melvin & Howard in this movie despite Le Mat and Robards getting top billing. A lot of the film centers around Melvin and Lynda having to rekindle their romance only to have it crumble a second time. It isn't until after an hour the plot actually starts to kick in which puzzled me to be honest. But then the movie starts peaking a lot more interesting developments. Is the whole thing a true story? Who knows for sure... It's still a nice story about a man down on his luck getting some new luck and then facing the idea of losing it altogether thanks to a total stranger. Everything shown here is at least one idea of the American dream we'd love to believe in. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/22/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Critics Reviews

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      Pauline Kael New Yorker Melvin and Howard has the same beautiful, dippy warmth as its characters. Sep 12, 2023 Full Review Tim Pulleine Sight & Sound Affectionately good-humoured as much of the observation is... the film's eye is, if never savage, then sometimes at least moderately scathing. Jul 11, 2018 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times Robards is a chillingly effective Hughes. But this movie belongs to Paul Le Mat, as Dummar. Rated: 3.5/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...striking, engrossing... Rated: 3/4 Mar 16, 2022 Full Review Larry Vitacco Philadelphia Gay News Tak Fujimoto's photography and Craig McKay's editing are without fault. Rated: 3/4 May 27, 2020 Full Review Pat Padua Spectrum Culture Hypnotic shots of asphalt echo Two-Lane Blacktop, Easy Rider and other American road movies while forging its own human path - not of counterculture, but of connection. Aug 28, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis When luckless dreamer Melvin Dummar (Paul Le Mat) rescues a grizzled, half-dead man (Jason Robards) from the desert, he's skeptical of the man's claim that he's actually reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes. But in the wake of Hughes' death a decade later, a will appears naming Melvin the recipient of $156 million, and a media circus ensues. Accused of forgery, Melvin vigorously maintains his innocence despite a strong intuition that he'll never see any of the money.
      Director
      Jonathan Demme
      Production Co
      Universal Pictures
      Rating
      R
      Genre
      Comedy, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Sep 19, 1980, Original
      Release Date (DVD)
      Mar 9, 2004