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IMDbPro

Whatever Works

  • 20092009
  • SS
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
74K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,603
586
Larry David in Whatever Works (2009)
An eccentric older man (David) encounters a Southern belle (Wood) and promptly falls in love. But how will the couple, her family, and his New York City friends mix?
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
69 Photos
ComedyRomance

A middle-aged, misanthropic divorcé from New York City surprisingly enters a fulfilling, Pygmalion-type relationship with a much younger, unsophisticated Southern girl.A middle-aged, misanthropic divorcé from New York City surprisingly enters a fulfilling, Pygmalion-type relationship with a much younger, unsophisticated Southern girl.A middle-aged, misanthropic divorcé from New York City surprisingly enters a fulfilling, Pygmalion-type relationship with a much younger, unsophisticated Southern girl.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
74K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
6,603
586
  • Director
    • Woody Allen
  • Writer
    • Woody Allen
  • Stars
    • Evan Rachel Wood
    • Larry David
    • Henry Cavill
Top credits
  • Director
    • Woody Allen
  • Writer
    • Woody Allen
  • Stars
    • Evan Rachel Wood
    • Larry David
    • Henry Cavill
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 195User reviews
    • 194Critic reviews
    • 45Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Whatever Works
    Trailer 2:18
    Whatever Works

    Photos69

    Patricia Clarkson in Whatever Works (2009)
    Larry David and Marcia DeBonis in Whatever Works (2009)
    Larry David, Conleth Hill, and Michael McKean in Whatever Works (2009)
    Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood in Whatever Works (2009)
    Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood in Whatever Works (2009)
    Ed Begley Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Conleth Hill, Olek Krupa, and Michael McKean in Whatever Works (2009)
    Henry Cavill and Evan Rachel Wood in Whatever Works (2009)
    Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood in Whatever Works (2009)
    Patricia Clarkson and Conleth Hill in Whatever Works (2009)
    Henry Cavill and Patricia Clarkson in Whatever Works (2009)
    Henry Cavill and Evan Rachel Wood in Whatever Works (2009)
    Woody Allen, Henry Cavill, and Evan Rachel Wood in Whatever Works (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Evan Rachel Wood
    Evan Rachel Wood
    • Melody Celestine
    Larry David
    Larry David
    • Boris
    Henry Cavill
    Henry Cavill
    • Randy
    Adam Brooks
    Adam Brooks
    • Boris' Friend
    Lyle Kanouse
    Lyle Kanouse
    • Boris' Friend
    Michael McKean
    Michael McKean
    • Boris' Friend
    Clifford Lee Dickson
    • Boy on Street
    Yolonda Ross
    Yolonda Ross
    • Boy's Mother
    Carolyn McCormick
    Carolyn McCormick
    • Jessica
    Samantha Bee
    Samantha Bee
    • Chess Mother
    Conleth Hill
    Conleth Hill
    • Brockman
    Marcia DeBonis
    Marcia DeBonis
    • Lady at Chinese Restaurant
    John Gallagher Jr.
    John Gallagher Jr.
    • Perry
    Willa Cuthrell-Tuttleman
    Willa Cuthrell-Tuttleman
    • Chess Girl
    • (as Willa Cuthrell Tuttleman)
    Nicole Patrick
    Nicole Patrick
    • Perry's Friend
    Patricia Clarkson
    Patricia Clarkson
    • Marietta
    Olek Krupa
    Olek Krupa
    • Morgenstern
    Ed Begley Jr.
    Ed Begley Jr.
    • John
    • Director
      • Woody Allen
    • Writer
      • Woody Allen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Woody Allen claims that he cast Larry David because David is one of the few comedians that makes him laugh.
    • Goofs
      Melody says she is from Mississippi and that her parents moved there from Louisiana. She also refers to living in Plaquemines County. There is no Plaquemines County is Mississippi. In Louisiana, where there are parishes instead of counties, there is a Plaquemines Parish.
    • Quotes

      Boris Yellnikoff: That's why I can't say enough times, whatever love you can get and give, whatever happiness you can filch or provide, every temporary measure of grace, whatever works.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Hello I Must Be Going
      From the Original Soundtrack Iloiset soittoniekat (1930)

      Written by Bert Kalmar (as Bert Kalmer) & Harry Ruby

      Performed by Groucho Marx and Cast

      Courtesy of Universal Studios

    User reviews195

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Another really good one from Woody
    Well, my first review for the IMDb. I picked one that I thought I was not going to like, but I like Woody Allen, so I gave it a shot.

    I thought I would not like Whatever Works, because I read and heard some of the critics' negative reviews.

    So, the first ten to fifteen minutes or so into the movie, I'm thinking that Larry David is better at improvising, as on his own show, than doing someone else's lines, albeit Woody Allen's.

    But then, as usually is the case with Mr. Allen;s movies, I got hooked half way through. I got hooked because it was very well done. The story, the direction, the acting - yes, Larry David was perfect for this. It was a risky casting move on Mr. Allen's part, but it worked beautifully.

    I like it also because Mr. Allen interjects philosophy in all of his movies. He courageously exposes himself, allows us to hear his thoughts and does these things by seducing us with entertainment.

    Excellent work.

    The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the sort of "tying up" philosophy about how we should go with whatever works. Such a happy ending. Why?

    That said, id didn't interfere with my overall appreciation of the movie.
    helpful•50
    28
    • tonytu-1
    • Jun 28, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 23, 2009 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
    • Official sites
      • Mars Distribution (France)
      • Sony Pictures Classics (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Untitled Woody Allen Project
    • Filming locations
      • East Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Sony Pictures Classics
      • Wild Bunch
      • Gravier Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,306,706
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $266,162
      • Jun 21, 2009
    • Gross worldwide
      • $36,020,534
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 33 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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