Woody Allen directs Larry David? Woo and Hoo!

In my daily sweep of the film sites, I suddenly got very excited to see a photo of a balding, ageing, Jewish man in glasses looking miserable. Well two balding, ageing, miserable-looking Jewish guys in glasses really because as these pictures show, the bittersweet comedy of Woody Allen and Larry David is being combined in a new movie, Whatever Works .

Couldn't find too many details on the plotline as yet, but whatever it is, this film promises much as a collaboration of grumpy talent. Allen has become known as a hit-and-miss director in recent times, but with a lead as in-tune with his glass-half-empty outlook on life as David, the odds must surely be stacked in favour of a hit. Most importantly, David has long been the funniest guy on TV via the taboo-breaking profanity and mishap hilarity of his sitcom Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The numerous similiarities between the pair might lead one to wonder why Allen didn't just cast himself in the lead role, as he did in some of his best work (Annie Hall, Manhattan). But I'm inclined to say its a blessing given that David won't be prone to the kind of morose self-obsession that Allen sometimes indulged in when acting in his own films. On the other hand, Allen will be able to provide the pathos and romance usually left out of Curb. Yeah I'm gonna stick my neck out and say that this film should be pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good. (Fans of Curb should get that).