Whatever Works
Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: June 19, 2009 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
45
METASCORE
Mixed or average reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews
Positive:
10
Mixed:
16
Negative:
5
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
80
TimeRichard Corliss
No kidding: this is the feel-good movie of the year and a cinematic soul massage. Read full review
75
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
It's a slight-but-enjoyable effort, and it features something a little on the surprising side: an optimistic ending. Read full review
75
Chicago Sun-TimesRoger Ebert
Yellnikoff, played with perfect pitch by Larry David. Read full review
75
Miami HeraldRene 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
75
Philadelphia InquirerSteven Rea
Easily one of the loosest, most satisfying comedies to hail from the prolific writer/director in a while. Read full review
75
Portland OregonianShawn Levy
At one and the same time it feels like a decent-but-not-great film of his '70s period and a perky and tart entry in his modestly successful revival in the last half-decade. Neat trick. Read full review
75
New Orleans Times-PicayuneMike Scott
Ends up being a pleasantly surprising blast from the past, a delightful and amusing touchstone to Allen's comedic prime. Read full review
67
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Though Clarkson acquits herself reasonably well in a terribly conceived role, her entrance interrupts David’s hilariously twisted mentorship of Wood and sends the movie careening in a far less promising direction. Read full review
63
Slant MagazineHenry Stewart
As it unfolds, Whatever Works assumes an increasing note of poignancy, becoming a quasi-optimistic story about securing whatever little love you can in this fakakta world. Read full review
63
Rolling StonePeter Travers
Whatever Works feels like something out of time and, worse, out of step. Hell, Allen wrote the script back in the 1970s for Zero Mostel. Read full review
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