Movie Notes: Whatever Works
= 2 stars
Starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Patricia Clarkson
Directed by Woody Allen
Synopsis
Cynical genius Boris Yelnikoff (Larry David) avoids humanity — he considers them “zombie morons” — until he meets southerner Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood).
The Good
- Somewhat amusing set-up of an odd couple that somehow works. Boris is old, cynical, brilliant, and a stereotypical New Yorker, while Melodie is young, optimistic, stupid, and from the deep, religious south. Allen uses the situation to make some blunt comments that I’ve observed real-world evidence for, specifically, ignorance leads to optimism.
- Evan Rachel Wood nearly carries the entire film, doing the best possible with a limited character. The film’s best scenes feature just her.
The Bad
- Although David delivers Boris’ cynical one-liners off with grumpy conviction, he feels miscast. Boris is supposed to be a quantum mechanics, chess-playing genius, but nothing in David’s portrayal depicts a deep intellect.
- There really is no dramatic reason for Boris to be so old, and inevitably, when Melodie falls for him (even the most casual Allen fan could see that coming), the self-conscious creepiness of Allen’s personal life again emerges with a heavy sigh. The route the film eventually takes could be interpreted as: “Are you okay with three people or two homosexuals marrying? Well, then a man married to a woman young enough to be his granddaughter; ain’t so bad!” But it’s Allen’s continual decision to have such characters in his movies that is creepy.
- Okay, so let’s accept this odd couple for the sake of laughs. Well, Boris and Melodie’s differences don’t result is as much conflict (therefore, comedy) as expected. Soon, Melodie’s mother and father arrive in search of their wayward daughter, other odd characters appear, soon at the expense of Boris and Melodie’s relationship. By film’s end this wasn’t the movie I signed on for.
- Rehashes themes from Mighty Aphrodite and Anything Else.
Conclusion
All I got out of Whatever Works was the hope that Allen casts Evan Rachel Wood as a more dramatically substantial character (perhaps she’ll be the next Scarlett Johansson) — and offer more substantial characters to play off of. The cynical bastard thing — definitely didn’t work. Whatever.
Previous Woody Allen Movie: Vicky Cristina Barcelona
IMDB: Whatever Works
Wikipedia: Whatever Works
Rotten Tomatoes: Whatever Works 47%