Woody Allen is back to New York City and he celebrates his return with a new romantic comedy Allen-style dedicated to his favorite place of earth and its ability to change drastically the lives of those who come from all over to Big Apple attracted by the lamp of Statue of Liberty that she lift for "tired, poor, and yearning to breathe free..."
The movie is short, just 90 minutes, and the second half is fast, entertaining, and very funny. It introduces two characters, divorced couple, conservative Christian Southerns from Mississippi who came to New York in search of their runaway daughter and found out something about themselves and whatever worked for them to turn their lives around, to deal with their issues, and in the end to make Allen's little comedy a really feel good movie. Patricia Clarkson whom I like in every role I've seen her gave another wonderful performance as Marietta. John (Ed Begley, Jr.), Marietta's estranged husband, provided some funniest moments in the film. As good as Clarkson and Begley are, they play the second fiddle to Larry David's misanthropic, eccentric, sarcastic, neurotic, and by his own words unlikable genius Boris Elnikov who against his best judgment enters impossible romance with a 21 years old naive sweet southern runaway belle named Melody St. Anne Celestine (Evan Rachel Wood). At times, it was creepy - how well David played Allen-like character yet never lost his own personality. I believe that Woody Allen is the best actor to play himself in the movies he directs but Larry David came very close. David's delivery of some lines is hilarious and made me laugh out loud with delight. I have to admit that the first half of the film is a bit over-talkative, static, and with the constant breaking the forth and involving the audiences by direct talking to them, it feels more like a stage play than a movie. Well, I like the movie anyway, and whatever Woody does - works for me. But I am his long time fan and I love his movies even before I see them. I truly believe that even minor Woody is worth watching and Whatever Works is not an exception. If anything, the movie gives us an unique chance to see two of the very best masters of laughs working together. It is not the first movie for Allen and David. David played the small roles in New York Stories (1989) and Radio Days (1987) but after seeing Whatever Works, I'd add that Woody plus Larry "...is match made in heaven... by a retarded angel." Whatever works may not belong to the best Allen's pictures, and it is not in the same league as the last year's Vicky Christina Barcelona but it is much better than an average Hollywood comedy that has been released during this year.
Mr. Allen, now I am ready to meet a Tall Dark Stanger in London sometime next year, hopefully sooner than later.
7.5/10
The movie is short, just 90 minutes, and the second half is fast, entertaining, and very funny. It introduces two characters, divorced couple, conservative Christian Southerns from Mississippi who came to New York in search of their runaway daughter and found out something about themselves and whatever worked for them to turn their lives around, to deal with their issues, and in the end to make Allen's little comedy a really feel good movie. Patricia Clarkson whom I like in every role I've seen her gave another wonderful performance as Marietta. John (Ed Begley, Jr.), Marietta's estranged husband, provided some funniest moments in the film. As good as Clarkson and Begley are, they play the second fiddle to Larry David's misanthropic, eccentric, sarcastic, neurotic, and by his own words unlikable genius Boris Elnikov who against his best judgment enters impossible romance with a 21 years old naive sweet southern runaway belle named Melody St. Anne Celestine (Evan Rachel Wood). At times, it was creepy - how well David played Allen-like character yet never lost his own personality. I believe that Woody Allen is the best actor to play himself in the movies he directs but Larry David came very close. David's delivery of some lines is hilarious and made me laugh out loud with delight. I have to admit that the first half of the film is a bit over-talkative, static, and with the constant breaking the forth and involving the audiences by direct talking to them, it feels more like a stage play than a movie. Well, I like the movie anyway, and whatever Woody does - works for me. But I am his long time fan and I love his movies even before I see them. I truly believe that even minor Woody is worth watching and Whatever Works is not an exception. If anything, the movie gives us an unique chance to see two of the very best masters of laughs working together. It is not the first movie for Allen and David. David played the small roles in New York Stories (1989) and Radio Days (1987) but after seeing Whatever Works, I'd add that Woody plus Larry "...is match made in heaven... by a retarded angel." Whatever works may not belong to the best Allen's pictures, and it is not in the same league as the last year's Vicky Christina Barcelona but it is much better than an average Hollywood comedy that has been released during this year.
Mr. Allen, now I am ready to meet a Tall Dark Stanger in London sometime next year, hopefully sooner than later.
7.5/10