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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Xan Brooks

World premiere of Woody Allen's Whatever Works starring Larry David

Whatever Works premiere: Woody Allen at the Whatever Works premiere
Your seats, please, for the latest laugh-riot spectacular by Woody Allen. Now just how funny is Whatever Works, exactly? Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
Larry David in a scene from Whatever Works
Well, Allen's film stars Larry David as a depressed Upper East Side financier - slumming it after a botched suicide attempt. Cue the hilarity! Photograph: Tribeca film festival website/HO/EPA/EPA
Whatever Works premiere: Robert De Niro and Woody Allen at the Whatever Works premiere
Festival founder Robert De Niro welcomes Allen to the party. Apparently De Niro acts a little on the side. Perhaps he is fishing for some work Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Whatever Works premiere: Woody Allen and Patricia Clarkson at the Whatever Works premiere
Introductions complete, Allen proceeds to spread his comedy magic. Here he is, sharing a joke with Patricia Clarkson ... Photograph: Jim Spellman/Jim Spellman/WireImage.com
Whatever Works premiere: Woody Allen and sister Letty at the Whatever Works premiere
.... recalling hilarious childhood holidays with his sister Letty ... Photograph: Jim Spellman/Jim Spellman/WireImage.com
Whatever Works premiere: Woody Allen greets Uma Thurman at the Whatever Works premiere
.... arm-wrestling with Uma Thurman .... Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Whatever Works premiere: Whatever Works premiere: Woody Allen and Larry David
.... before finally becoming overcome with mirth in the company of cast members Henry Carvill, Clarkson, Evan Rachel Wood and Larry David Photograph: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe
Whatever Works premiere: Larry David arrives at the Whatever Works premiere
With Allen on fire, it's no wonder the other guests find themselves upstaged. That's Larry David in the corner Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Whatever Works premiere: Larry David at the Whatever Works premiere
The Curb Your Enthusiasm creator has appeared in Woody Allen movies before, in fact. He played a communist neighbour in Radio Days, and was alarmingly hairy as a theatre manager in Allen's contribution to New York Stories Photograph: Lucas Jackson/REUTERS
Whatever Works premiere: Harvey Keitel and wife Daphna at the Whatever Works premiere
But there are other guests around too. Harvey Keitel has shown up with his wife, Daphna Kastner .... Photograph: Jim Spellman/Jim Spellman/WireImage.com
Whatever Works premiere: Robert De Niro and Grace Hightower at the Whatever Works premiere
... while De Niro is accompanied by his own wife, Grace Hightower Photograph: Peter Foley/EPA
Whatever Works premiere: Cheryl Hines at the Whatever Works premiere
And look - there's Cheryl Hines, David's long-suffering co-star on Curb Your Enthusiasm Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images
Whatever Works premiere: Debra Messing at the Whatever Works premiere
Who's that over there? Why, it's Will and Grace star Debra Messing, who also happened to star in Allen's Hollywood Ending – purportedly so bad it was never released in the UK Photograph: Jim Spellman/Jim Spellman/WireImage.com
Whatever Works premiere: Mary-Kate Olsen at the Whatever Works premiere
But let's forget the past and look the future. Startling to note that none other than Mary-Kate Olsen is a jury member for this year's Tribeca film festival, which means that Allen's fate could lie in her hands Photograph: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe
Whatever Works premiere: Molly Shannon arrives at the Whatever Works premiere
Molly Shannon is a jury member too. She's laughing – which we should take as an encouraging sign. But remember – this photo was snapped before the film began Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
Whatever Works premiere: Evan Rachel Wood at the Whatever Works premiere
Is this what she's laughing at? Someone has written a little ditty on Evan Rachel Wood's back. Poor Evan doesn't even know it's there Photograph: Jim Spellman/Jim Spellman/WireImage.com
Whatever Works premiere: Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn the the Whatever Works premiere
Result! Allen is smiling at last, and his wife Soon-Yi Previn has shown up for the premiere. Now we can at last get this show on the road Photograph: Evan Agostini/AP
Whatever Works premiere: Robert De Niro arrives at the Whatever Works premiere
Robert De Niro orders the guests to take their seats. Later he will be prowling the aisles with an ice-cream tray, or perhaps playing the Wurlitzer organ. No booing, please. He doesn't like the booing Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters
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