Whatever Works
Whatever Works Image
See the trailer
Metascore
45 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
6.3 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 86 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
Rate this:
  • Starring: Evan Rachel Wood, Larry David
  • Summary: 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 findingg love is just a combination of lucky chance and appreciating the value of Whatever Works. (Sony Classics)
    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 30
  3. Negative: 5 out of 30
  1. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Corliss
    80
    No kidding: this is the feel-good movie of the year and a cinematic soul massage.
  2. The New Yorker
    Reviewed by: Anthony Lane
    60
    There was always a dreaminess in his vision of the city, but now it feels as distant as the polished floors and the Deco furnishings of the Fred Astaire movies that Boris finds--of course--whenever he turns on the TV.
  3. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Frank Scheck
    60
    Features enough genuine laughs to give it decent commercial traction.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    38
    How big a bastard can Woody Allen build a screenplay around and still generate a modicum of audience goodwill? The answer: not this big.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 33
  3. Negative: 6 out of 33
  1. HeyGuys
    10
    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.… Expand
  2. KathleenCm
    8
    Time's review is correct, it is a life affirming film and very funny.
  3. dev92
    7
    I am not sure why this website continually knocks intelligent films but this was actually highly funny. Larry David is always on top form and Woody Allen produced yet another hilarious and witty film. Evan Rachel Woods was completely different to normal too, I didn't even recognise her!… Expand
  4. Cat
    3
    Stale retread of previous films, the humor and the characters feel dated. The only surprising thing was listening to such banal dialog issuing from the mouth of Larry David, who I associate with much sharper and fresher observations.… Expand

See all 33 User Reviews

Trailers

Current Movie Releases

Full List »
  1. Star Trek Into Darkness
    Metascore: 73
  2. Iron Man 3
    Metascore: 62
  3. 42
    Metascore: 62
  4. Evil Dead (2013)
    Metascore: 57
  5. The Croods
    Metascore: 55
  6. The Great Gatsby
    Metascore: 55
  7. Oblivion
    Metascore: 54
  8. Pain & Gain
    Metascore: 43
  9. G.I. Joe: Retaliation
    Metascore: 41
  10. Olympus Has Fallen
    Metascore: 41
  11. The Host
    Metascore: 35
  12. Tyler Perry's Temptation
    Metascore: 27
  13. Scary Movie 5
    Metascore: 11
All Current Movies »