Review of Whatever Works (2009) by Ryan C — 24 Jul 2012

Larry David in a Woody Allen film is a pitch that seems almost too good to be true. And unfortunately, it very often is. The plot focuses on Boris Yellinkoff (David) and his pessimistic views on both the city of New York and the entire human race. His life gets shifted around when he welcomes the southern, dimwitted runaway Melody (Evan Rachel Wood)into his home. Gradually, his pessimism rubs off on Melody as the two begin to grow romantically attached.

The dialogue is often very funny and David has some truly funny lines. He often addresses the audience directly. "Can't you see them?" he asks his friends referring to us, the viewers, at one point, similar to Woody Allen's "Annie Hall." This script was written at about the same time as that masterpiece. Unfortunately, Boris' condescending attitude and preachy diction eventually begins to wear thin and becomes frustrating. Furthermore, Melody's consistent stupidity is exhausting and seldom funny.

"Whatever Works" isn't a bad film, just a bit of a messy one. The script starts to fall apart about half way through the second act, but up until then, I found the film enjoyable. It has the distinct Woody Allen feel that makes most of his films so beloved, but this one feels a bit lethargic as it runs out of steam rather quickly. The payoff isn't nearly as satisfying as it thinks it is and it's humor grows sporadic, but worth a look for fans of Larry David's and Woody Allen's works.