Movie Review- Whatever Works

One thought crossed my mind as I was watching this film. Oddly it was a paraphrase of something said by Homer Simpson: "I can't believe I'm saying this about a depressing movie, but this isn't very good." (For the Homer quote, take out "depressing movie" and insert "TV show") That's where the great irony lies. This is supposed to be a romantic comedy. Now, to be fair, I'm not really a fan of the romantic comedy genre anyway. But I am a fan of Woody Allen (who directed the film). But this film just did not work for me.

The film stars Larry David, of Seinfeld production fame. He was also the star of HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm" (in my opinion, the most overrated show ever). David plays Boris, a self-proclaimed brilliant man who looks down on just about all of his fellow human beings with contempt and feels that life is utterly meaningless.

There is much to be mined theologically. Boris' opening dialogue about the meaninglessness of life would provide a decent video illustration for a sermon or Bible study on Ecclesiastes.

Other themes which are discussed heavily in the film are atheism and pessimism, as well as religious fundamentalism. Needless to say, Allen comes down hard against any religion and portrays those who are religious as parodies of believers.

There is an error which Boris makes right away in the film's opening sequence. he states that Christianity and Marxism both have the same fatal flaw: they start with the belief that humans are inherently good. This is clearly not the case. Christianity teaches that human beings are born sinful, and thus are inherently evil. Unless Boris is referring to American "civil religion", which I do not believe he is.

GOSPEL HANDLES

It was hard to find really any gospel handles in this film. This film is better served as illustrations and reflection of contemporary society. There are several great law handles, especially regarding humans as a doomed species (without Christ, of course). Any Gospel handles will have to be imported.

CLERGY HANDLES

Though no clergy are specifically depicted in this film, 2 devout Christians are. And as I mentioned above, they are reduced to a parody of Christian fundamentalism.

This film is worth seeing, if only for the discussion and reflection it is likely to cause. But, you might want to wait for the DVD release.