Last night I came home with a big smile on my face. It had been a really complete day including eating out, buying some gorgeous MAC paint pots, getting presents such as a new purse and a bilingual financial dictionary -I’m a geek- and going to a medieval market where I got some yummy Arab pastries. But the very best part of my day was going to the movies to watch Whatever Works, Woody Allen’s latest film.
It really amazes me how very few people in the U.S. admire Allen’s work when he’s a goddamned guru in Spain. The line to get tickets an hour and a half before was just plain insane and we Allen’s fans collapsed Gran Vía. That theatre was also showing Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds and Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock -with Emile Hirsch in it- but everyone seemed to go to Whatever Works.
After years of going to watch his movies to theatres I can say Woody Allen’s Spanish audience can be divided in two kinds. First, you have the all-time fans, who are upper-middle class and middle-aged or elderly people. These just don’t miss a premiere and get together as a highly social event to go watch Allen’s new comedy (Allen’s films used to be comedies up until 4 years ago) -they go get their hair done, wear their best outfits and then have dinner out to talk about the movie. On the other hand you’ve got the young people (add me on this list here) who are the weird little youngsters that like to watch undubbed indie movies and then get obsessed over the development of the characters, the way light is dealt with in the film or the endless literary and artistic references appearing in the movie that you laughed at and no one else sitting on a radium of six rows north, south, east or west got.
But let’s talk about the film, yeah? For those living under a rock, Whatever Works has Larry David as its main character, a misanthropist and hypochondriac old man whose life changes when a retarded Southern girl appears in his life. So it’s Larry David being Woody Allen and just Larry David himself. For those who have lived under a heavier and thicker rock, Larry David was one of Seinfeld’s creators and currently has a hilarious show about his own life, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Those not knowing Seinfeld please exit my blog this minute.
I mean Woody Allen is back because this film is good old Allen all over again. It’s non-stop laughing all the time and the story is as unexpected as it can get with a bunch of brilliant actors and a few settings in Manhattan. You could say Woody Allen has gone back to his origins after his English trilogy -resulting in two mind-blowing tragedies and a surreal comedy- and his holidays in Spain and a Barcelona from a paralel universe cause we all know Barcelona is just not like that at all -not really my cup of tea in many aspects.
The high points of the movie? Allen’s script, as always, which makes the film a masterpiece of humour and intelligence, and Larry David’s acting. I just love that man. He’s the perfect misunderstood hermit.
The low points? For me, nothing. Even though when the movie ended and everyone was clapping an old man in front of me said “I didn’t like it. It ends too well”. He’s right, but sometimes you need a bit of light and happiness in your life. I mean, whatever works 
Can’t wait to visit him there and meet all his British mates, haha
