A look at the new Woody Allen film.Its a match made in heaven as neurotic heavyweights Woody Allen and Larry David finally join forces in Whatever Works, a new comedy written and directed by Allen. Allen and David in the same film? Is that even possible? Aren't they the same guy?
In Whatever Works, Larry David plays Boris Yellnikoff, a cynical physicist with suicidal tendencies. Against his better judgement, Boris takes in a sweet, 21 year old runaway named Melodie St. Anne Celestine (Evan Rachel Wood), and before long, this unlucky in love sexist-misanthrope is questioning the true nature of love and his possible role in it.
Larry David is hilarious as a man so overly analytical about everything, that he never takes a moment to simply enjoy his life. His Boris Yellnikoff goes off on quirky tangential bits occasionally in classic Allen soliloquy. He is, more or less, Allen's counterpart and he speaks this legendary writer's chatty but laugh out loud dialogue with effortless ease.
In typical Woody Allen fashion, Whatever Works boasts an impressive cast. Patricia Clarkson, Ed Begley, and Michael McKean, are all in top form, but it's Evan Rachel Wood who steals the show as the seemingly clueless but undeniably cute Melodie. Wood has turned in strong performances before (see Thirteen and The Wrestler), but this is certainly a career highlight. She simply lights up the screen and it's easy to see why Boris would be bewitched by her Melodie.
Woody Allen has been on quite an impressive streak as of late. Match Point ranks as an Allen masterwork and last year's Vicky Cristina Barcelona was also impressive. With Whatever Works, Allen is on comfortable turf - the shades of Manhattan are hard to ignore. He's going for broader comedy here than the more cerebral Annie Hall and Manhattan, still any time Allen and NYC team up, It isn't at the same level as Annie Hall and some of his earlier classics, but its still a riot and well worth checking out.
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