Review of Whatever Works (2009) by Johnny T — 03 Oct 2012

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.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. 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. 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. It's a slight-but-enjoyable effort, and it features something a little on the surprising side: an optimistic ending.

VERDICT: "In The Zone" - [Mixed Reaction] These kinds of movies are usually movies that had some good things, but some bad things kept it from being amazing. This rating says buy an ex-rental or a cheap price of the DVD to own. If you consider cinema, ask for people's opinion on the film. (Films that are rated 2.5 or 3 stars).