Rating of
3.5/4
Whatever Works
Allison - wrote on 07/06/09
There's something about being one of six sparsely laughing people in a theater to watch a Woody Allen film. It's like having a favorite diner, wondering how in the world they can stay in business, but enjoying it while it lasts.
There's nothing more worn out and tired like a "new" Woody Allen film, but hey, whatever works, right? We have the same characters, but new actors. This film is about the same as Scoop quality-wise (but hey, I was one of the only people who liked that movie). Evan Rachel Wood is one of my favorite actresses, but let me level with you. She is atrocious with her accent, with everything about her. There, I said it. Everyone else is pretty good, even Larry David, who is just a pale imitation of Woody Allen here. And I'll be honest, I would prefer the real thing. However, he did make me laugh, darn him!
And just in case you're getting nostalgic for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, let me tell you there is a threesome, or a menage a trois, as one of the members so delicately puts it. My only complaint (besides wasting Evan Rachel Wood's talent) is that Woody Allen has a worldview and by the end of the movie all the wildly different characters arrive at the same conclusion that we live in a godless world. Kind of annoying, but I'll take it with a grain of salt. After all, I have more fun watching Woody Allen's films than practically anyone else's! Hey, whatever works.
(BTW, apparently W.Allen wrote WW for Zero Mostel in the seventies. I was wondering who he had in mind for the Evan Rachel Wood part back then, but then again, he may not have been thinking of anyone specific).
