Whatever Works

Movie Info

Genre(s): Comedy  |  Romance

Written by: Woody Allen

Directed by: Woody Allen

Release Date:
Theatrical: June 19, 2009
DVD: October 27, 2009

Running Time: 92 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: PG-13 for sexual situations including dialogue, brief nude images and thematic material

Starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Henry Cavill, Kristen Johnston, and Michael McKean

Woody Allen returns to New York with an offbeat comedy about a crotchety misanthrope and a naïve, impressionable young runaway from the south. When her uptight parents, arrive to rescue her, they are quickly drawn into wildly unexpected romantic entanglements. Everyone discovers that finding love is just a combination of lucky chance and appreciating the value of Whatever Works. (Sony Classics)

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What The Critics Said

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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 6.0 (out of 10) based on 54 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

James H gave it a9:
I'm a huge Woody Allen fan and I think this is the best film he's done since his 80's heydays. Larry David is brilliant and I was laughing right from the start and kept laughing throughout. Some people were turned off by the pessimism of the Larry David character, but being a pessimist myself I could relate and thought he was hilarious. I liked it even better than Vicki Christina Barcelona or Point Blank - the other two great recent Woody films.

dfwforeign buff gave it a9:
Whatever Works 2009 Allen’s new film presents a plot deals with the role of luck and the unremitting bleakness of human existence (with humorous and New York(ish )Woody Allen point of view) It follows in the long line of romantic sex comedies with the usual existential ranting that only Mr. Allen has been able to create and sustain. Attempting to impress his ideologies on religion, relationships, and the randomness (and worthlessness) of existence, lifelong New York resident Boris Yellnikoff rants to anyone who will listen, including the audience. But when he begrudgingly allows naive Mississippi runaway Melodie St. Ann Celestine to live in his apartment, his reclusive rages give way to an unlikely friendship and Boris begins to mold the impressionable young girl's worldly views to match his own. When it comes to love, "whatever works" is his motto, but his already perplexed life complicates itself further when Melodie's parents eventually track her down. The critics have been overly harsh regarding this film. It seems to me the age of professional movie reviews is gone. All I read is hate hate hate about Woody Allen yet critics drool over a stupid psychopathic movie like No Country For Old Men. This film is Allen’s best feature since Match Point and his most effective pure comedy in a dozen years. What a genius of a movie to put Larry David in the role of Woody’s personal alter ego as Boris Yellinkoff. ("I'm not a likable guy) The truth is, no matter how misanthropic, sarcastic and neurotic Woody Allen is, he ultimately is a pretty likable personality. Allen's return to Manhattan after three stays in London and a wonderful Barcelona film is yet another great Woody Allen comedy. Allen and Larry David Fans will find plenty to laugh at here, while others will inevitability whine and whimper- I hate Woody Allen! I hate Woody Allen! Don't believe the negative reviews. It's the funniest one from Woody Allen in many years. There were many criticisms of Larry Davids hard-edged savagery Yellinikoff’s line readings. Some felt it threw the film out of balance. Most of the negative reviews thus far have complained that Allen made David's character is "too unlikable" or "unsympathetic." They're missing the point entirely. There is a recording playing in the opening credits, Groucho Marx singing "Hello, I Must Be Going"; Boris Yellnikoff is the kind of sharp-witted, bitter, muttering guy that Groucho or W.C. Fields used to play. Both of those character comics were huge early influences on Allen in his early films. When he wrote this script in the early 70’s, he saw Mostel as the same kind of bigger-than-life comic personality, and wrote the role accordingly. W.C. Fields' character was that of a drunken gambler who hated dogs, loathed his wife, and kicked children. Groucho's was a quick-witted con man who talked fast and insulted everyone in sight. Did anyone ever complain about how unsympathetic they were? No, because they were funny. So is Boris. So is Whatever Works, though it may be somewhat uneven. On the contrary I found David’s role and character hysterically funny and with great irony. It is kind of a deadpan surliness. Allen's ideas here are retreads - depending on how much this 1970s script wasn't rewritten – But for those who enjoy the Woody Allen experience, "Whatever Works" is comfortable enough. Other critics have pointed out the films weakness’s (and there are some-The ending was almost an assault on our intelligence). What makes this film interesting is that this is old-school Woody. This is a 70’s Allen script of which the period is commonly referred to (even mockingly by Allen himself, in Stardust Memories) as his "earlier, funnier movies." Does it hold up, comparatively, to his other films of that era (Sleeper, Love and Death, Bananas)? Not especially; But is it funny? Certainly. The film has a surprisingly optimistic ending (for a Woody Allen movie!!) Allen has written and directed over 40 films in his lifetime completely outside of the movie studio establishment. I think we should celebrate America’s greatest film maker. I like this film and lot and I laughed a lot!

Hey Guys gave it a10:
When a mildly intelligent film comes to theatres, you can count on mediocre critics everywhere jumping at the chance to tear down something smart in an effort to make themselves seem smarter. It's boring, doodz. And it's not constructive either. This is one of a very small handful of thoughtful movies to come out this year. And because you give pass after pass to shoddy action movies and palatable romances, your affected snobbery just comes across as anti-intellectual. And I'm not even saying this is a super duper intellectual movie! But compared to... everything else... well.

Dan C gave it a0:
Wow. i left this feeling not only cheated but depressed. allen, through the medium of an off-time, awkward larry david, throws at us about 200 reasons why we should be unhappy, panicked, depressed and worried. does allen really take us for such fools that he thinks he's the only one who can see 'the big picture' (a phrase used ad nauseam) and that we are all outside of his apartment window hopelessly banging heads with each other, clueless to the whats going beyond our own noses? god, its unspeakably self-righteous and bitter. the most self-righteous movie ever made possibly.

Charlie G gave it a0:
Finally a movie that has made Cube look like quality entertainment. Perhaps like me you saw the previews and thought, hey, what a witty film! Don't worry, you just saw the only four funny lines in the film. Whatever Works should have been advertised as lite porn for octogenarians, and even they might get turned off by the incessant yammering spewed from Bore_us that passes for...intellectual charm? There's only so much poorly phrased "quantum mechanics" based put-downs a person can tolerate from a liberal arts major. Perhaps Melody isn't the only one who could stand to benefit from some college courses. But don't misunderstand, it's not just bad wording this film suffers from. Nor is it the fact that the main character is an opportunistic pedophile, or that all of the women are just waiting to get it on with multiple men (and I use that term loosely as there is only one hot man in the entire film). It's the complete flaunting of religion, life purpose, and basic human decency responsibility. Instead of fathers being fathers you get sex crazed closet homosexuals; instead of mothers being mothers you get promiscuous pimps that are OK with their daughters being whores to older men but really would prefer shallower jerks with nicer exteriors. And instead of younger women being intelligent, responsible, or even mildly desirous of having children you get brainless ditzes who are not just OK with having sex, but have no other life meaning. This movie makes me want to join the American Riffle Association in case there are any zealous fans infesting my neighborhood. I'd be happy to help Woody achieve better results with these failed suicide attempts I hear he's struggling with.

bill c gave it a7:
Feels very woody allen like of course and with a dash of Larry davids Curb charactor. Certainly watchable if you enjoy Curb or Woodies works. NOTHING

Jay H gave it a7:
Interesting vintage style Woody Allen film, rather typical in his unique style. Very entertaining and well written. I do feel the cast lacked spark, with the exception of Patricia Clarkson. Evan Rachel Wood’s character needed and actress with more depth, I couldn’t help but think how incredible Amy Adamas would have been.

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