At the Movies with Fatwayne

As we are all aware by now, this script was written by Woody Allen some thirty years ago and was to have starred Zero Mostel. Mostel’s death put an end to Allen’s plans and the project was shelved. Until now!

Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm) steps in as the lonely and grouchy New Yorker, Boris Yelnikoff. After a while, I got the feeling that I was watching Woody Allen  himself. The movie had the aura of the earlier Allen films and the rapid fire dialogue. It did, however, seem like it was a stage play with Boris’ apartment accounting for most of the location shots. If you are an Allen fan than you should enjoy this offering.

The story line has Boris incessantly blathering about anything you can imagine to his friends and also to us, via the fourth wall. One day as he is returning to his apartment he is accosted by a runaway girl who asks him for food and if she can come into the apartment to rest. After initially refusing, he agrees to let Melodie St. Ann Celestine (Evan Rachel Wood) into his home. Melodie should be bored by Boris’ insults and constant ruminations about life, religion, and the pointlessness of just about everything! That plus the 40 or so years difference in their ages only makes her become fascinated with the neurotic ex physicist. It doesn’t take long before his misguided ideology begins to find its way into her thinking. Eventually, these two start to become attracted to each other despite being polar opposites, and decide to get married.

All goes well until Melodie’s mother comes looking for her. Marietta is aptly played by Patricia Clarkson who is a hoot as the Mississippi Mom who comes to the Big Apple to find her daughter and some help after her husband leaves her for her best friend. Marietta all but faints when she learns the Melodie is married to the old curmudgeon, Boris. She becomes determined to find a more suitable mate for her daughter to spend the rest of her life with.

If Boris’ life wasn’t complicated enough with Marietta’s arrival, it is about to get worse! A knock on the door produces Melodie’s father, John (Ed Begley, Jr.) who is looking not only for his daughter but also for his wife! John too is dismayed to learn that Boris is his new son-in-law!

There are many changes in our characters lives and demeanor over the course of the movie. This is fun to watch as bible thumpers become modern day hippies and heteros venture to the gay side of the street. The ending is rather incredible but nontheless enjoyable as was this movie!

You can find quotes from this movie at the following location: http://www.tvmoviequotes.com/whateverworks.htm

Rated – PG13 -

Fatwayne’s Rating – 3 out of 5 Popcorns!