WHATEVER WORKS 3.0***(almost 3.5***) “Whatever Works” works and works quite well chiefly because Larry David knows how to play Woody Allen better than Woody does. Now Woody is still in charge as the Writer and Director and wisely returns to his roots, his best stomping ground..NYC's Manhattan.

The story is smart and quirky, a return to the best of the Woody Allen. The main character, Boris (Larry David, is a near genius who is a total skeptic and complete pessimist. By chance, he takes in a young 20 yr. old run-away, Melinda St. Ann Celestine (Evan Rachel Wood)...I LOVE that name; and despite being complete opposites, a sweet relationship grows out of it. Melinda is from the back woods of Louisiana with a sweet drawly Southern accent, who was a teen beauty queen including Miss Tupelo, Miss. She almost believes everything Boris says even when its clear that he's being sarcastic. David and Wood play well off each other and the startling contrast in their characters' age, intelligence and character works well ...it turns out to be charming and funny.

Then throw in the staggered arrivals of Melinda’s parents looking for their lost daughter. First is her mother, played by the excellent Patricia Clarkson, who soon sheds her Louisiana backwoods and becomes a swinging bohemian artist . Next comes Melinda's dad, played by Ed Begley, who soon has a sexual revelation that helps him understand why when he played high school football he always got a real charge out of seeing the hunky tight end go into a crouch position.

It's a laugh-out-loud movie with just the right mix of odd but likable characters and has sparkling right-on dialogue.

So, "whatever works” to get you to this movie, do it and do it quickly because, being an Indie movie, it may not be around very long.