Whatever Works

Name: Whatever Works
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: June 19, 2009
Rating: 45
Cast: Evan Rachel Wood, Larry David

2009

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 103 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 103 Ratings

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Whatever Works

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Movie Details & Credits

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: June 19, 2009 | PG-13

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 finding love is just a combination of lucky chance andWoody 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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Director: Woody Allen

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: PG-13

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Richard Corliss

No kidding: this is the feel-good movie of the year and a cinematic soul massage. Read full review

Mike Scott

Ends up being a pleasantly surprising blast from the past, a delightful and amusing touchstone to Allen's comedic prime. Read full review

Rene Rodriguez

What makes Whatever Works so enjoyable, aside from the unusually high number of effective one-liners the script contains (this is Allen's funniest movie since Mighty Aphrodite), are its supporting characters. Read full review

Liam Lacey

As Whatever Works creaks along, the attention-getting nastiness of the first half dissipates and it turns into just another Woody Allen overacted sex farce. Of all the insults hurled about in the film, perhaps the worst is its pandering conclusion. What exactly does Allen take his audience for? A bunch of mindless zombies? Read full review

Lisa Schwarzbaum

The fact that Allen wrote the script in the '70s explains something about why his newest movie feels so old. Read full review

A.O. Scott

None of it works. Or it works too hard. Whatever. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

This toxic, contemptuous, unforgivably unfunny bagatelle finds Allen at his most misanthropically one-note. Read full review

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User Reviews

BrianF

Jun 21, 2009

I thoroughly enjoyed this film! Yes it does seem like Mr. Allen wrote it originally as a play, but so what. Whatever Works worked for me.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

BillyS.

Jul 13, 2009

Any Woody Allen film is a guarantee that it's better than 90% of all the other films out there. He's back in New York and he's got Larry David in one of the most brilliant casting moves in his career, he's brought Patricia Clarkson back for another hilarious turn and Any Woody Allen film is a guarantee that it's better than 90% of all the other films out there. He's back in New York and he's got Larry David in one of the most brilliant casting moves in his career, he's brought Patricia Clarkson back for another hilarious turn and with Harris Savides behind the camera how can it not be great! Come on, It's WOODY ALLEN!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

HeyGuys

Nov 10, 2009

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 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

1 of 2 users found this helpful

AaronJ.L.

Jul 5, 2009

I smiled all the way through. Witty, surprising, easy to watch, and refreshing. Also, for whatever it is worth, there is a lot of sex appeal.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

WodekS

Jun 26, 2009

If originality is your thing, then this film is not for you. However, if you think it is Woody Allen's right to remind us -- over and over again -- to protect ourselves from the temptations of nihilism, then "Whatever Works" was made for you. Besides it is very, very funny, sweet and - If originality is your thing, then this film is not for you. However, if you think it is Woody Allen's right to remind us -- over and over again -- to protect ourselves from the temptations of nihilism, then "Whatever Works" was made for you. Besides it is very, very funny, sweet and - if that wasn't enough, it is a blue, New York, grenade aimed at the stereotypical heart of red America.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

billc

Oct 29, 2009

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

0 of 0 users found this helpful

CharlieG

Nov 1, 2009

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 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.… Expand

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