Whatever WorksSynopsis and Overview

Poster art for "Whatever Works."

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  • Whatever Works
  • Opened June 19, 2009 | Runtime:1 hr. 32 min.
  • PG-13
    sexual situations including dialogue, brief nude images and thematic material
  • Information for parents: Common Sense Media says OK for kids 15+. Read More
  • After a failed suicide attempt, brilliant New York misanthrope Boris Yellnikoff (Larry David) forsakes his posh upper-class existence for meager accommodations in Chinatown. He meets his exact opposite in Melody (Evan Rachel Wood), a pageant queen Read More
  • Cast: Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley, Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Conleth Hill
  • Director: Woody Allen
  • Genres: Comedy

Whatever Works Movie Photos & Trailers + Clips

  • Larry David, John Gallagher Jr. and Evan Rachel Wood in "Whatever Works."
  • Larry David as Boris in "Whatever Works."
  • Patricia Clarkson as Marietta in "Whatever Works."
  • Conleth Hill as Brockman in "Whatever Works."
  • Larry David, Director Woody Allen and Conleth Hill on the set of "Whatever Works."
  • Larry David as Boris, Michael McKean as Joe and Conleth Hill as Brockman in "Whatever Works."
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Whatever Works Featured Trailers + Video Clips

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Whatever Works Recent Fan Reviews

  • Go

    I laughed and that what works for me

    by Powerhugs

    After sifting through a myriad of your typical anti-Woody Allen reviews I was determined to see this film for myself because I wanted to be my own judge..Yes its true that its not Woody's best work but call me crazy I actually enjoyed the escapism of the story and the characters. It was good fun to see some familiar New York locations being used for a change since this was the filmmaker's return to New York...And suprisingly the audience clapped at the end of the film so apparently I wasn't the only one who enjoyed it..I will spare everyone the technical faults and the social commentary that Woody Allen films naturally bring to mind....Its just that you go in with extraordinary expectations and if it doesn't deliver the film gets panned.. I can tell you that listening to Woody's words being spoken by Larry David were smart and classic Woody and that was worth 90 minutes of laughter...

  • Oh No!

    One of the Season's Worst !

    by Santa_Fe_Ranger

    I've always enjoyed Allen's humor and self-absorbed neurosis, but this film was terrible. I knew I was in for a disappointment when "Boris" started talking directly into the camera to the "audience". The film had a grating quality which would have prompted me to just get up and leave had it not been for my date who seemed willing to sit through it until the end. Admittedly, the material occasionally was engaging during the second half, but overall not enough to make me want to stay in my seat.

    I think Allen has completely lost it with this disaster.

  • Must Go!

    WHATEVER WORKS---Terrific

    by

    Larry David & Woody Allen , WOW! It's taken me years to actually like Woody Allen movies, but this one is one of his best and he has officially gained a fan for life.

    Larry David is a comic genius. Just watch his CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM show on HBO. His performance in WHATEVER WORKS brought one laugh after another for me. I saw it at ShowWest back in March and cannot wait to see it again.

    There is a great supporting cast supplying lots of laughs. What else could you possibly ask for from a Comedy?

    I hope everyone sees this movie. If you don't laugh about every 5 minutes you need to get your sense of humor analyzed.

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Whatever Works Critic Reviews

So-so Avg. Critic Score out of 100 Metascore ® based on all critic ratings.

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 75
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Yellnikoff, played with perfect pitch by Larry David.

  • 63
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    Whatever Works feels like something out of time and, worse, out of step. Hell,...

  • 60
    The Hollywood Reporter | Frank Scheck

    Features enough genuine laughs to give it decent commercial traction.

  • 50
    Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum

    The fact that Allen wrote the script in the '70s explains something about why...

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Whatever Works Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

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Critics say

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