Poster for Whatever Works

Whatever Works

2009, Romance/Comedy, 1h 32m

169 Reviews 25,000+ Ratings

critics consensus

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

You might also like

See More

Cold Souls poster image

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger poster image

You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger

The Damned United poster image

The Damned United

Ondine poster image

Nowhere Boy poster image

Rent/buy

Rent/buy

Rent/buy

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

Whatever Works Photos

Whatever Works (2009) photo 1

Whatever Works (2009) photo 2

Whatever Works photo 3

Whatever Works photo 4

Whatever Works photo 5

Whatever Works photo 6

Whatever Works photo 7

Whatever Works photo 8

Whatever Works photo 9

Whatever Works photo 10

Whatever Works photo 11

Whatever Works photo 12

Whatever Works photo 13

Whatever Works photo 14

Whatever Works photo 15

Whatever Works photo 16

Whatever Works photo 17

Whatever Works photo 18

Whatever Works photo 19

Whatever Works photo 20

View All Photos

Movie Info

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.

Rating:

PG-13 (Nude Images|Dialogue|Sexual Situations|Thematic Material)
Genre:

Romance, Comedy
Original Language:

English
Director:

Woody Allen
Producer:

Letty Aronson, Stephen Tenenbaum
Writer:

Woody Allen
Release Date (Theaters):

Jun 19, 2009 limited
Release Date (Streaming):

Oct 27, 2009
Box Office (Gross USA):

$5.3M
Runtime:

1h 32m
Distributor:

Sony Pictures Classics

Cast & Crew

Larry David
Boris Yellnikoff

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood
Melody

Patricia Clarkson

Patricia Clarkson
Marietta

Ed Begley Jr.
John

Michael McKean
Joe

Henry Cavill
Randy James

Show all Cast & Crew

News & Interviews for Whatever Works

Critics Consensus: <em>Year One</em> Fails To Beget Laughs

Critics Consensus: Year One Fails To Beget Laughs

Critic Reviews for Whatever Works

All Critics (169) | Top Critics (59) | Fresh (85) | Rotten (84)

Full Review… David Ansen Newsweek

Full Review… Ed Koch The Atlantic

Full Review… Joshua Rothkopf Time Out

Full Review… Catherine Shoard Guardian

Full Review… Adam Woodward Little White Lies

Full Review… Tim Robey Daily Telegraph (UK)

Full Review… Jorge Montiel Clarín

Full Review… Andrea Hubert NME

Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins

Full Review… Mattie Lucas From the Front Row

Full Review… Kelly Jane Torrance Washington Times

Full Review… Scott Raab Esquire Magazine

View All Critic Reviews (169)

Audience Reviews for Whatever Works

Jan 09, 2014

Larry David is the only reason I watched this film but I soon seen Woody Allens name and realised this was one of many films I hadn't seen. I hold Allens films in high standard and just love the comedy he creates through use of dialogue. This film has hilarious Larry David rants and the dream team of Allen and David fits the comedy moments. You get the sense that Allen created the film for himself in the lead but I think David plays the neurotic lead well. The film has an innocence that you can't ignore, I'm a little shocked at all the mixed reviews. 04-11-2017.

Brendan N Super Reviewer
Jun 22, 2013

This film teaters on the fine line between interesting and strange. I may have a different outlook on this movie than other because I am a huge fan of Larry David, but overall the movie was just okay. It is a decent watch if you are in a cynical mood, but I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see it. It has a few moments of intrigue and humor, but it is hardly worth anyone's time.

Sanjay R Super Reviewer
Jan 08, 2013

Not bad, but something just doesn't click.

Hugo S Super Reviewer
Jul 11, 2012

Sporadically humorous, but some of the acting is kind of sketchy, and there are a few too many familiar cliches involved in the love stories. I will admit I liked the themes involved and the misanthropic Larry David character.

Dillon L Super Reviewer

See All Audience reviews