5.9
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Whatever Works (2009)
Whatever Works (2009)
Overview
Whatever Works explores the relationship between a crotchety misanthrope, Boris and a naïve, impressionable young runaway from the south, Melody. When Melody's uptight parents arrive in New York to rescue her, they are quickly drawn into wildly unexpected romantic entanglements. Everyone discovers that finding love is just a combination of lucky chance and appreciating the value of "whatever works."
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Center
Political: Center
Diversity: Low
LGBTQ: Positive
Christianity: Negative
Viewer Rating
5.9
Overview
Whatever Works explores the relationship between a crotchety misanthrope, Boris and a naïve, impressionable young runaway from the south, Melody. When Melody's uptight parents arrive in New York to rescue her, they are quickly drawn into wildly unexpected romantic entanglements. Everyone discovers that finding love is just a combination of lucky chance and appreciating the value of "whatever works."
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Center
Primary
The film's central thesis focuses on individual happiness and the pragmatic embrace of 'whatever works' in relationships and life, without explicitly promoting a specific political ideology or engaging with broader societal or political critiques, leading to a neutral rating.
The movie features a predominantly white main cast without explicit race or gender swaps of traditionally white roles. Its narrative does not critically portray traditional identities, focusing instead on character-driven relationships and philosophical themes.
Secondary
Whatever Works depicts two major supporting characters, Melody's parents, who both discover and embrace their queer identities after leaving their conventional marriage. Their journeys are portrayed as liberating and lead to genuine happiness and fulfillment, presenting LGBTQ+ identities in a positive and affirming light.
The film satirizes a rigid, fundamentalist brand of Christianity through Melodie's parents, depicting it as repressive, judgmental, and ultimately leading to hypocrisy and unhappiness. The narrative critiques this specific religious adherence, showing characters finding liberation by moving away from it.
The film 'Whatever Works' does not include any identifiable transsexual characters or explore transgender themes within its narrative. Its storyline centers on unconventional relationships and the personal transformations of its characters, none of which involve transsexual identity.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Whatever Works is an original screenplay by Woody Allen, not an adaptation of pre-existing material or a historical account. All characters were created for this film, thus there is no prior canon or historical baseline for their gender to be swapped from.
Whatever Works is an original film with characters created specifically for this movie. There is no prior source material, historical record, or previous adaptation where its characters were established as a different race. Therefore, no race swaps occurred.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.1
7.1
Critic Ratings
5.0
4.5
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