Whatever Works (2009)

As I said in my review of the Woody Allen film Sleeper, I have finally caved in and started watching the magnificent films of Woody Allen. And what magnificent films they are. Now, if you have read my review of Sleeper, you know that I love it to death. Whatever Works, I love a good bit less. But I still find it to be an extremely good film. The film, not starring Woody Allen like most of his other films, stars who is basically the clone of Woody Allen, Larry David. David plays a man who is not having the best day. Or week. Or month. Or year. Or decade. He’s just kind of been out of luck his entire life. He tries to kill himself by jumping out of the window, and lands in a canopy. And this man’s bad luck has made him so cynical it’s hard to believe. To put it in retrospective, let me just say this. I’m assuming that you have read some of my other reviews, and so I am assuming that you know that I am a decently cynical human being. Compared to the main character in Whatever Works, I do not have a cynical bone in my body. That’s how cynical this guy is. But his cynicism begins to fade when he meets a girl (Evan Rachel Wood) who opens up his heart and helps him life. What follows is what we know now today as a classic Woody Allen film. A sweet romantic comedy-drama with some really funny jokes. There is a recurring gag where David’s character talks to the camera and says unnaturally cynical and funny things. As with the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, these are some of the best parts of the film. But remember, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a much better movie than Whatever Works. But, Whatever Works isn’t a bad film. It isn’t even the worst Woody Allen film. It is a decently good film. You can get some honest entertainment out of this. But this isn’t a feel-good movie. David says in the beginning-“Now, this isn’t the feel-good movie of the year.” And he’s right. This is a bittersweet film, a movie that is some good, if hard-hearted, entertainment.
7.5/10