Adam Rehmeier’sDinner in Americahas all the makings of a cult classic. The idiosyncratic punk rock comedy premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews and left without a distribution deal. It took two more years before the film was eventually self-released, with little fanfare or awareness. But then,something unexpected happened thanks to the power of social media. Slowly but surely, audiences began discovering the film, and clips started going viral, leading to a major resurgence.Dinner in America’s popularity grew so much that it returned to theaters, with repertory screenings selling out across the country.
Dinner in Americafollows Simon (Kyle Gallner), a punk rock singer and petty criminal, and Patty (Emily Skeggs), an eccentric young woman obsessed with his band, who offers him refuge while he’s on the run from the police. The two form a bond and embark on one of the strangest relationships ever put on film. Ahuge part ofDinner in America’s viral success came from the song “Watermelon Song"performed during a pivotal moment in the movie. The catchy tune became a sensation on TikTok, inspiring users to cover the song, which only fueled more people to finally discover the movie.
Emily Skeggs' Patty Sings “Watermelon Song” In Dinner In America
The Earworm Is Performed By Patty In One Of The Film’s Best Scenes
The majority ofDinner in Americais a two-hander, following Simon and Patty as they grow closer and begin to navigate their bizarre yet undeniable attraction. Simon helps Patty break out of her shell and gain confidence — demanding that her ex-boss pay her an overdue paycheck and exacting revenge on her bullies by burning their tracksuits and throwing a dead cat on them. Eventually, their relationship reaches a turning point as they consummate their connection,leading to the unforgettable “Watermelon Song” scene.
As they lie in Patty’s bed post-sex, Simon casually picks up his guitar and starts strumming a melody. He encourages Patty to get up and sing the lyrics she wrote. Initially hesitant, she finally gives in and starts to sing —revealing an unexpectedly awesome song.
I’m a watermelon slammed into your driveway
Crack me open so I feel the air inside me
Like a tongue, tongue
In my ear drum, dumb, dumb
Music boyfriend, I’m your yum, yum
Call me and I’ll come
F**k the rest of them
F**k em all
F**k ‘em all but us
Am I dreaming, or did you just kiss me?
You don’t know it, but you already miss me
In my eardrum, dumb, dumb
F**k ‘em all
But us, but us
With each verse, Patty’s confidence grows, and she becomes completely immersed in the performance. Simon watches in awe as this once-awkward, insecure girl transforms into a rock star before his eyes. It’s apowerful moment — both for their relationship and for Patty’s self-discovery— marking a significant shift in a film that, up until this point, had primarily been a subversive punk comedy.
At its core,Dinner in Americais about rebellious outsiders finding their voice and gaining empowerment from unexpected sources. “Watermelon Song” is the film’s emotional high point,encapsulating everything that makes it special — its themes of self-expression, defiance, and transformation. It also doesn’t hurt that the song is catchy as hell.
Skeggs Wrote Dinner In America’s “Watermelon Song” In One Day
The Actress Worked With Director Adam Rehmeier To Perfect The Song
Although Emily Skeggs has a musical background and was nominated for a Tony for the musicalFun Home, “Watermelon Song” was her first attempt at songwriting. She andDinner in Americadirector Adam Rehmeier decided early in production to write the song together,believing it was essential for Emily to fully embody Patty. In an interview withMovieweb,Skeggs described the process of writing the song:
“Part of the deal with this movie was that Adam and I were going to write a song together. It was one of the first things we did when we arrived on-location, which really set the tone for and really guided us towards where we knew Patty and Simon ultimately needed to meet.”
Ultimately, they wrote the song in just one day. Emilychanneled Patty’s perspective, bringing in phrases and poetry she imagined her character would write about. She loved the process, which gave her a newfound appreciation for creating music:
“I basically wrote a bunch of stream-of-consciousness-Patty poetry and brought it to Adam, and we sat there and read through it and just kind of jammed — and Kyle was there, too. Adam and I] wrote the song in a day. It was really liberating in the sense that I was like, ‘Oh, I can write music. I can write songs.’
Skeggs is currently touring withDinner in America,attending screenings across the country alongside her co-star Kyle Gallner and Rehmeier. She is also active in the LA theater scene and performs a monthly show at the Upright Citizens Brigade and Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles calledMamma Mia, But Different.
