Whatever Works

An elderly cynic, Boris runs a precise and solitary life in Manhattan, until he meets Melody, a naïve, optimistic young woman from the South who latches onto his strange sense of reality. Their unlikely pairing becomes a foil and a challenge as Melody's parents descend on the city determined to pull her back to a safer life. What follows is a string of witty verbal duels, social misadventures, and flirtations that force everyone to reevaluate love and possibility. The film treats romance as a pragmatic experiment, asking whether happiness can be rearranged through chance and the idea that sometimes the only solution is to try whatever works.

Directed by Woody Allen, Whatever Works arrived in 2009 as a New York centered comedy about love and intellect. The screenplay is Allen's own original work, led by Larry David alongside Evan Rachel Wood, Michael McKean and Patricia Clarkson. The production leans on intimate locations around Manhattan, with nerdy philosophizing delivered in brisk, fast-paced dialogue that has become a signature of Allen's late career style.

On a budget of 15 million dollars, the film grossed about 36.0 million worldwide, a modest take for a dialogue driven romance. Its earnings reflect a steady demand for Woody Allen's talkiest comedies rather than wide release spectacle.

Its dialogue and premise echo Allen's long fascination with sharp urban wit and misfit romance. Boris's dry, philosophical one-liners and Melody's sunny energy create scenes that linger beyond the credits, inviting viewers to consider how intellect and affection negotiate a happy ending. The film also offers a postscript about first impressions and how unlikely trust can grow in straight up comedy.

Critics generally praised the brisk wit and performances; some noted the premise's elegance but felt it sometimes avoids deeper emotional risk. The film delves into themes of rationalism versus emotion, contingency in relationships, and whether happiness can be engineered through clever dialogue or requires a leap of faith. That blend of wit and honesty makes Whatever Works a reminder that love can surprise you, even when cynicism tries to dictate the terms.