(IMO) a Better Life Philosophy

On a dreary and drizzly Sunday evening I wrapped myself in an old over sized cardigan and took myself to the movies. I think I have said it before - I am not a movie goer. I hate the scratchy seats that too many bums have imprinted, and the stench of popcorn dampened with butter... it's just really not my thing. But their is an irresistible allure to a Woody Allen movie...especially a Woody Allen movie set in New York City...that hooked me. And so, with no other plans this evening I succumbed to the urge to wonder down to the Angelika Film Center and sit anonymously in a room full of strangers to watch Whatever Works - I like to think that Mr. Allen would find this state of mind entirely appropriate for one of his films - especially this one.

Movie reviews are tricky. They inevitably give something away or at the very least create a false sense of expectation. Given this, I am going to steer a way from a review of the movie itself (although I do suggest you see it) and instead jot down what I was thinking as I left the flick.

As I strolled up Bleecker I pondered the validity of having a life plan...

I grew up with quite a strict life plan - well plans really. As I grew up the plans changed and evolved, and as it should, but the point is there was always a 'plan', a path for happiness and success. I don't think there is any problem with having a life plan, in fact I would argue that it's in many ways necessary to live a life of accomplishment. My sudden problem with my life plan is what it's composed of and how I arrived at it.

White picket fences? A six, née seven digit salary? I Brad Pitt-esque husband? Rock star status? Private schooled children? A second home in Napa? A third in The Alps? Who decided all of this anyways?

OK, my life plan is a little more elaborate than this, but the point stands that so many of us carry these perfect visions of what happiness ought to be - what we think it is - rather than going after what it really is. It all gets muddled up because what's happy for you maybe isn't so happy for me, and vice versa. In a world that looks for objectivity over relativity the idea that happiness is different for everyone can become more than a little perverted - I don't even want to think about the religious implications of this argument!

I guess the point is: Whatever Works man! For me, it was a strangely liberating notion to be able to vocalize within my own head. The idea that I can let go of all my preconceived, preordained, society-influenced ideals and find what makes me really happy...well that frees up a whole realm of possibilities that are other wise closed off, forbidden, unthinkable!


I know that these ideas and concepts have been there - available to think about and discuss long before Woody Allen came along - but it's kind of nice when someone spells it out so perfectly succinctly for you! The ironic part is Larry David lays it out quite simply in his first monologue, "this is not the feel good movie of the year," but that's exactly what it turned out to be - if your open to a slightly different interpretation!

And now for the "review" part, just take a peek at the trailer (you can turn the music off at the bottom of the page)