Whatever Works

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2:10

Whatever Works

PG-13

2009

1h 32m

Romance

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

165 Reviews

61%

Popcornmeter

25,000+ Ratings

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 from the Deep South who's long on sweetness but short on smarts. Surprisingly, Boris and Melody marry, but the sparks really fly when Melody's born-again Christian mother (Patricia Clarkson) arrives and finds liberation instead of damnation.

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Critics Consensus

Based upon a script written in the 1970s, Woody Allen's Whatever Works suffers from a lack of fresh ideas.

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Feb 6, 2018

This is fun, but it turns Boris's doomsday neurotic rants into mere cartoon caterwauling. Levant, who never got a happy ending, would no doubt sneer.

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Ed Koch

The Atlantic

Jan 17, 2018

Woody Allen is always exploring new avenues. While Whatever Works isn't close to his best films, it is far better than most of the current crop of romantic comedies, most of which are schlock.

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Catherine Shoard

Guardian

Jun 25, 2010

3/5

It won't win Allen new converts, but for those of faith, it offers consolation.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Sep 4, 2023

3/4

Sure, you’ve probably seen better Woody Allen movies, and it’s clear the ideas are recycled, but like most Allen fare, the formula works.

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Jorge Montiel

Clarín

Sep 1, 2022

4/4

This excellent, entertaining, and intelligent film reaps the rewards of the stupendous acting of its ensemble. [Full review in Spanish]

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Andrea Hubert

NME (New Musical Express)

May 19, 2021

3/5

The script is as tight as any Curb episode, as waspish, as bitchy and clever as it should be, and though there is no ground broken here, there is none lost either.

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Robert P

@Superbad Sep 17, 2026

Whatever Works = a *3* star Movie!

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Peter P

@RT94099514 May 9, 2025

One of the best films of Woody Alen

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Apr 18, 2025

Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, o elenco é fraco, mas ninguém ajudou a melhorar o filme, a história é fraca, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e mais relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Cliff V

@RT73487311 Apr 13, 2024

Huge fan of Woody Allen, but he has hits and misses...this might be his biggest miss ever!

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Daniel G

@DanielGodoyBsb Jan 20, 2024

Pleasant enough Woody Allen movie, with some smiles and even short laughs along the way. The misanthropic protagonist does get on one's nerves after a while, as does the young lady's apparent naivité or acceptance of his truth as hers. Though a short movie, it seemed a bit too long after a while. And the ending obviously was too neat.

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Reggie P

@RT12917892 Sep 27, 2023

It works; dialogues are crispy, every character is well drawn and makes sense.

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Woody Allen

Director

Larry David

Boris Yellnikoff

Evan Rachel Wood

Melody

Patricia Clarkson

Marietta

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Whatever Works: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

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 from the Deep South who's long on sweetness but short on smarts. Surprisingly, Boris and Melody marry, but the sparks really fly when Melody's born-again Christian mother (Patricia Clarkson) arrives and finds liberation instead of damnation.

Director: Woody Allen
Producer: Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum
Screenwriter: Woody Allen
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co: Gravier Productions, Wild Bunch, Perdido Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Nude Images|Dialogue|Sexual Situations|Thematic Material)
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 19, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $5.3M
Runtime: 1h 32m

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