Whatever Works

Play trailer

2:10

Whatever Works

PG-13

2009

1h 32m

Romance

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

50%

Tomatometer

167 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.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

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

Read Critics Reviews

David Ansen

Newsweek

02/06/2018

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.

Go to Full Review

Ed Koch

The Atlantic

01/17/2018

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.

Go to Full Review

Catherine Shoard

Guardian

06/25/2010

3/5

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

Go to Full Review

Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

09/04/2023

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.

Go to Full Review

Jorge Montiel

Clarín

09/01/2022

4/4

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

Go to Full Review

Andrea Hubert

NME (New Musical Express)

05/19/2021

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.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Peter P

@RT94099514 May 9

One of the best films of Woody Alen

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone Apr 18

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.

See more

Cliff V

@RT73487311 04/13/2024

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

See more

Daniel G

@DanielGodoy 01/20/2024

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.

See more

Reggie P

@RT12917892 09/27/2023

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

See more

Alexsander F

@Aelxs 06/30/2023

Filme gostoso demais. Atuação brilhante de Larry David quebrando a "quarta parede" , é só mais um ingrediente para o filme ser espetacular.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Woody Allen

Director

Larry David

Boris Yellnikoff

Evan Rachel Wood

Melody

Patricia Clarkson

Marietta

Ed Begley Jr.

John

Michael McKean

Joe

All About Steve

7%

30%

All About Steve

Watchlist

Scoop

42%

55%

Scoop

Watchlist

The Proposal

45%

68%

The Proposal

Watchlist

TRAILER

for The Proposal

How Do You Know

32%

25%

How Do You Know

Watchlist

He's Just Not That Into You

42%

59%

He's Just Not That Into You

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Whatever Works: Trailer 1

2:10

View more videos

View more photos

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

Most Popular at Home Now