Ever since Georges Méliès released a short film titled “A Trip To The Moon” back in 1902, the medium of film has grown as a fairly common form of entertainment. Throughout time, we have bared witness to all sorts of exciting narratives from swashbuckling adventures to alien invasions to superheroes. We have seen films that have fostered worlds and characters that are larger than life itself. We have seen films that have made us feel better about the world we live in as well as those that have made us think endlessly. Furthermore, we have seen films that aren’t just films but a genuine experience of the human soul. That last category is far less common than the usual cerebral or escapist fare that is often screened at our local cinemas.
Growing up, I went to the theater a lot. My father always took my brother and me every Saturday afternoon to see the next Star Wars, Lord of The Rings, 007, or Planet of the Apes movie. Back then, there was only one way to see a film but the variety was endless: you had your Blockbusters that were mostly reserved for the summer as well as your comedies, horror flicks, and so on. Nowadays, We have the reverse: so many ways to see a film with very little variety. Sure, You can always go for 3D, IMAX, or the chairs that rock and rumble as the film goes on but, the marquee is graced with the title of every IP known to man: “Now Playing at your local cinema: “Spider-Man”, “The Matrix”, “Jackass”, and “Scream.” People on Twitter have often pointed the finger at Marvel for “Ruining film” and “Destroying Cinema” when that is actually far from true.
The truth of the matter is that moviegoers fail to seize the opportunity when it is presented to them. Whenever a film like “Malignant”, “X”, or even Sir Ridley Scott’s embarrassing failure, “The Last Duel” is being promoted, potential viewers quickly brush it off. Why? Because of streaming. A trailer for A24’s “X” will show up and many people automatically think “Eh, I’ll wait till it hits Netflix.” Sure, Marvel has cast a massive shadow over other films at the Box Office but, they are not to blame for the “lack of original films coming out”, we are. However, if the success of Paramount’s “The Lost City” is any indication, that could change for the better. While that film (despite being recently released on Paramount +) is still thriving at the box office, another film has been making rounds since this past march: A24’s “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once.”
Directed by both Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (aka Daniels), “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” is a high-concept sci-fi dramedy. The film stars Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant who runs a laundromat with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan). Evelyn is an overwhelmed woman who is dealing with a lot: her marriage in jeopardy, planning a Chinese New Year party for the community, her extremely old-fashioned father (James Hong), and her estranged daughter (Stephanie Hsu). On top of that, she is also burdened with tax audits being done by an iron-fisted IRS worker (Jamie Lee Curtis). As she goes to meet with the IRS, Evelyn is then greeted by a variant of her husband who warns her that a great evil is out to destroy both her and the multiverse. With very little time left, Evelyn must navigate the multiverse in order to survive and save it from complete and utter destruction while also surviving tax season.
This is a film that, in the wrong set of hands, could be a flaming hot mess. Many have been critical of multiversal settings and narratives for being too low on stakes. However, what Daniels has managed to do with a $25 million budget is an absolute miracle. For starters, despite the film being incredibly busy, the narrative works. Some might have a hard time following the story during certain moments of the film but, I’d dare say that the screenplay is near-perfect. Even during its most chaotic moments, the Daniels’ narrative doesn’t lose traction nor does veer off course. That alone is something to marvel at. Speaking of Marvel, the film was also produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the duo behind “Avengers: Endgame.” Interestingly enough, this film manages to look better than half of today’s blockbusters despite having a quarter of the budget by sticking to practical effects over CG.
The cast delivers a round of outstanding performances. Michelle Yeoh is an absolute legend as Evelyn. She plays a complex and multilayered character with ease. She is seen as brash, abrasive, and closed off in the beginning but, she continues growing as the film progresses, leading to one of the best character arcs put to film. Best known as both Data in “The Goonies” and Short Round in “Temple of Doom”, Ke Huy Quan makes one hell of a comeback as Waymond. He is ultimately the heart of the movie, always seeing the good in everything and everyone. As Evelyn’s kind-hearted and well-meaning husband, Waymond is easily a stand-out. Reuniting with Yeoh after Marvel’s “Shang Chi”, Stephanie Hsu gives a truly excellent performance as Evelyn’s estranged daughter, Joy. She makes for an incredible antagonist throughout the film, being sympathetic and having a truly understandable motive for her turn to darkness. Even James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis give incredible supporting turns with arcs that come to shockingly satisfying conclusions.
Most films in Hollywood nowadays never seem to understand how to properly convey a message. I usually don’t care if a film has a message as long as the film itself is a good one. Most movies (especially awards season favorites) that want to convey a theme or message are often preachy or heavy-handed. I’ve even reserved this criticism for films that I really like. However, with “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once”, I felt that the film’s themes were weaved into the story perfectly. Rather than the themes or messages overpowering the story or characters, they supplement the film. The film gracefully explores themes of forgiveness, kindness, and generational trauma. There were many moments within the third act of this film where I teared up. An example of this is during one of Waymond’s biggest moments which I simply refuse to spoil. One minute, I’m laughing during a conversation between two rocks, the next, I’m in tears during an emotionally powerful scene.
Seeing “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” is like watching 5 movies at once but, edited in such a way that the story flows without missing a beat. As of writing this, I have gone to see this film on three separate occasions (Thanks A-List!) and every time I do, I always walk out feeling like a completely different person. It’s very similar to how some people feel after going to church on Sunday mornings. Very rarely has a movie created such a positive impact on me. I’m not even kidding: I felt like being nicer to other people, calling up old friends, and talking to family members I haven’t spoken to in ages. This isn’t just a film about the multiverse, it is an enlightening human experience. It’s not just a film about a Chinese immigrant doing taxes, it is a film about learning how to forgive yourself. I have never been so eager to recommend a film to both of my parents as I have with “Everything Everywhere All At Once.” What the Daniels have created is something that will live on for centuries. I’m glad that this film is still thriving at the box office, I couldn’t have thought of a better movie this year (or even in the past 5 years) that has been deserving of such success.
Final Verdict:
“Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” is more than a film: It is a hilarious, bombastic, and heartfelt experience with themes that resonate well with just about everyone.