The Woody Allen I like is back!

Whatever Works (2009) - dir. Woody Allen - 4 stars

Allen's latest is being hailed by many critics as a return-to-roots for the director .  It's being compared to Annie Hall, which in itself is a compliment. Considering that Allen wrote the script for Whatever Works in the 70s, the comparison isn't too surprising. Having found his leading man in Larry David some 30 years later, Allen decided to unearth the script and finally shoot it.  (Boris, the character that David plays, was originally written for Zero Mostel who passed away in 1977.) Whatever Works serves as a fresh serving of good ol' Allen with its hysterical antics, wacky characters, unexpected twists and trademark non-stop dialogue. It's a good thing that we're finally getting it in the UK a whopping one year after its US release; what's up with that?


The film traces the life of a New York misanthrope by the name of Boris Yellnikoff. The strange name is just the tip of the iceberg for this interesting choice of protagonist.  A one-time nominee for a Nobel prize in physics, he has a high opinion of himself and the lowest possible opinion of the human race as he believes we would be extinct by now if only nature had her way.  The only things he really enjoys in life are insulting others, keeping to himself and listening to classical music.  He abhors sex, human contact, children - basically everything.  Boris essentially plays out like an exaggerated Allen as most of his conversation beckons to the director's own views.


When a twenty-something named Melody from the South appears on his doorstep asking for shelter, Boris unexpectedly allows the "submental baton twirler", played by Evan Rachel Wood, to stay with him. As they grow on each other, romance starts to flourish between them, which is challenged as Melody's parents show up on their doorstep with their own issues to sort. Regardless of each of their situation, the name of the game is finding happiness and love with whatever that works as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. The film definitely drives this point in as many ways as possible as the Southerners embrace New York and its eccentric comfort with anything and everything.  With a bit of luck and a nudge from the universe, two people can meet with one-in-a-millionth chance and that might be it.  That might be love.


Whatever Works carries the trademark Allen humour with non-PC comments scattered around in continuous dialogue.  David, who is a master of improvisation as evidenced in his role in the HBO hit series Curb Your Enthusiasm, occupies a different ground here as he sticks to his lines devotedly including the three page monologue that starts the film.  He apparently tried to improvise and was encouraged by Allen to do so, but he was afraid to not sound like Boris and end up sounding more like himself, so he gave up.  He does an admirable job with the role and the lines, and I cannot think of anyone else who could have assumed the role better than him.  As for the rest of the cast, the right actors are wearing the right hats. Everyone from Evan Rachel Wood to Patricia Clarkson, who plays Melody's mother, fit the bill creating a nice ensemble.


All in all, this is the Woody Allen that I've always loved and missed.  Yes, the characters and the story might seem outlandish - they may even appear irritating! - but they do instill a sense of childish positive attitude that things do work out at the end if one just goes with the flow.  The universe may be random; we may be here by some stroke of luck, but luck works both ways, and it's better to give in than live against the current.  As Boris says, "Christ, you know the odds of your father's one sperm from the billions finding the single egg that made you? Don't think about it or you'll have a panic attack!"  Here's to Whatever Works!