Whatever Works – DVD Review

Film, Reviews

whateverworks

After a few years abroad, Woody Allen has returned to his well that is New York. On top of that this is a script he wrote in the ’70s. By that rational one could assume this would be classic Allen, but was he able to wipe away all the cobwebs it collected sitting all those years?

Larry David plays Boris Yelnikoff, a melon collie genius who rants and raves to his friend or who ever will listen, including the audience. Boris breaks the forth wall in a classic Woody Allen fashion and talks directly to the viewer, but a hilarious twist is put on this device. His friend’s question who he’s talking to and when he points out the viewing audience they have no idea what he’s talking about.

Boris is also divorced. However all that changes when he finds Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood) a simple 21-year-old girl sitting on his door step asking for help. She’s run away from home and needs a place to crash. Against better judgment Boris lets her in, insulting her the whole time. But time passes and Melodie falls in love with Boris despite all his very obvious flaws most of which he’s all too eager to point out to her. But as these things go, he eventually falls for her and they marry.

Things go fine for a while until Melodie’s separated parents both coming to the Big Apple to find her. At this point all sorts of silliness ensues and the plot really seems to meander a bit. It trudges along and eventually stumbles to an uneven ending.

As whole it’s a decent Allen flick. There are some great laugh-out-loud moments, but the whole third act seems to lose some steam and the laughs dissipate.

One can’t help but wonder how much better the film would have been had Allen made it in the ’70s with Zero Mostel in the lead role as he had planned. The only thing Allen claims to have changed about the script is the modernization of the political and social commentary. It certainly has the feeling of a ’70s Allen flick, but it’s lacking that certain something to make it one of his classics.

The film is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen and 5.1 Dolby Digital Mono sound. The film looks great. It’s well shot and the transfer is clear.

Trailer.

This film slips on like a nice pair of old shoes. They’re comfy, safe and familiar, but they also kind of worn down. Instead of creating another great film, Allen instead gives his fans a glimpse of what could have been, which is more of a tease than anything. Also this DVD completely lacks any real special features.


Sony Picture Classics presents Whatever Works. Directed by Woody Allen. Written by Woody Allen. Starring Larry David, Evan Rachel Wood, Ed Begley Jr, Michael McKean and Patricia Clarkson. Running time: 92 minutes. Rated PG-13 for sexual situations including dialogue, brief nude images and thematic material. Released on DVD: October 27, 2009. Available at Amazon.com

Mike Noyes received his Masters Degree in Film from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco. A few of his short films can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/mikebnoyes. He recently published his first novel which you can buy here: https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Days-Years-Mike-Noyes-ebook/dp/B07D48NT6B/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528774538&sr=8-1&keywords=seven+days+seven+years