Whatever Works

Woody Allen is nothing if not prolific and is back with his yearly cinematic offering.

New Yorker Boris Yellnikoff (Larry David) wouldn’t hesitate to impose his views on intellect, religion, and worthlessness of existence to anyone within earshot. He’s a crotchety, recently divorced old guy with little to live for. When Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood), a southern runaway, meets Boris and convinces him to let her stay in his apartment, she adds a little light to his otherwise dark existence.

Despite their 40+ year age gap, the two get married. They seem oddly content until Melodie’s parents show up and complicate things.

Larry David fits into the Woody Allen persona well, but isn’t as likeable as the characters Allen once played himself. Boris can be downright abhorrent. Wood is cute and likeable, but her southern shtick wears thin. And she’s given some really, really bad jokes.

Story structure is helter-skelter at best. The first half of the picture focuses on Boris and his ramblings, but the second half takes lengthy diversions with Melodie’s infidelity and her mother (Patricia Clarkson) discovering herself.

The conclusions come too quickly and neatly. Some jokes fall flat. And no one makes a better Woody Allen than Woody Allen.

This is disappointing because parts of the movie are charming and poignant. There are some good laughs too. The main point the protagonist is trying to make is that though life is miserable and worthless, you should hang on to whatever bit of happiness you can find. “Whatever works,” he says.

And while that’s a nice sentiment, I walked out of the theater thinking “whatever.”

- Eschew It