In “Whatever Works,” iconic filmmaker Woody Allen returns to New York with his latest stab at defining and exemplifying the human condition. Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) stars as Boris Yellnikoff, a self professed “Nobel level thinker” and all around misanthrope. Everything in Boris’ life is a failure: his career, his marriage, and even his attempt at suicide.
Life takes an unexpected turn for him when he becomes romantically involved with a much younger southern runaway, Melody, played by Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler). When her conservative parents (Patricia Clarkson, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Ed Begley Jr., Pineapple Express) arrive to rescue her, they get sucked into wild and unexpected romances in New York City’s Greenwich Village.
Whatever Works is a film about finding oneself and accepting the fact that love appears in many shapes. Allen follows up his previous film, Vicky Christina Barcelona, with a story that is endearing and grounded in experiences truly unique to New York City. In Vicky Christina Barcelona every character suffered loss and heartbreak from living “La Vida Bohemia.” Whatever Works, as the non-judgmental title would suggest, celebrates non-traditional relationships with characters that live and love in a world where anything goes. Pessimists may feel there’s not enough heartbreak in this film, but I found it to be one of the most enjoyable movies to come out this year.
Larry David, who is no stranger to playing characters who aren’t afraid of expressing their opinions, does a terrific job keeping Boris and Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David apart.
“Curb Larry usually needs a reason to insult someone, whereas Boris is much more indiscriminate about it,” says David. “The guy on ‘Curb’ isn’t as smart as Boris, but he has a better disposition, and seems to get a little more out of life. And he has the same needs as normal people, like love and sex, which Boris doesn’t seem to have.”
Boris is an example that proves no matter how jaded we may become; everyone has the potential to love. “As you go through life it’s a tough struggle and whatever works that doesn’t hurt anybody is fine,” says Woody Allen. “So however bizarre a romantic relationship may be: if it works, it works.”
The movie opens and closes with Boris turning to the camera and addressing the audience with some simple advice: “Anyway you can, filch a little happiness.” If you’re looking to filch a little for yourself, go out and see Whatever Works.
Whatever Works debuts this Friday, June 19th in a limited release. I give this film 9 out of 10 stars.
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