This week our movie was Eric’s pick. Torn between the animated Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Woody Allen’s Whatever Works, we did the old close-your-eyes-and-pick-a-hand trick. I must admit I wasn’t entirely enthused about either choice but there hasn’t been a Woody Allen movie that I haven’t like, so we popped in Whatever Works and our first weekly Movie Review Night was underway!
Larry David stars as Boris Yelnikoff, an unlikable physicist who has given up hope on all mankind. After a failed suicide attempt, Boris spends his days hopelessly trying to teach chess to children and discussing all the reasons he hates humanity. Convinced that life is worthless and for nothing, Boris feels that you should do whatever works to get pleasure from any joy you can obtain in life (as long as you aren’t hurting anybody else!). Boris soon encounters Melody, a sweet southern runaway, played by Evan Rachel Wood, when she shows up hungry at his doorstep and begging for food. Though Boris finds Melody incredibly naïve, stupid, and simple, he lets her stay with him and the two begin to find unusual happiness in each others company.
I normally find Evan Rachel Wood to be an awful actress, but I really enjoyed watching Melody’s character – though she was an idiot she was still endearing and charming. Larry David was hilarious, not far from his Curb Your Enthusiasm character, but he plays the type well. I wouldn’t say it was one of Wood Allen’s best movies, but it definitely had enough laugh out loud moments to keep me interested.
I’ll leave you with a few words of advice on life from Boris, “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.”
xoxo,
Amber
Added to the Netflix queue.
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