Woody Allen’s ‘Whatever Works’ smart but breezy

Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood in "Whatever Works" Woody Allen surrogate Boris Yellnikoff (Larry David) explains life to Melodie (Evan Rachel Wood) in “Whatever Works.”

Woody Allen’s main character in “Whatever Works” rants directly into the camera, breaking the “Fourth Wall” of theater, but not much new ground.

Still, the smart, breezy and intermittently engaging “Whatever Works” celebrates the return of two key staples in Allen’s cinematic canon: New York City (which has taken a back seat to Europe for his past few films), and Allen himself, or at least his alter-ego.

That character is supplied by comedian and writer Larry David, whose uncanny ability to capture Allen’s physical and vocal essence on screen borders on the supernatural. (Read more…)

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