While everyone told me that I had to watch Everything, Everywhere All at Once with my mom, I happened to view it for the first time with my dad. While watching it, I could tell there were certain parts that resonated more with me than him, and I can’t tell whether this whole viewing enhanced or detracted from my experience. Overall though, I was blown away by a stunning film about life, love and the relationships that make it all so chaotic but give us a reason to stay.
Everything, Everywhere All At Once very creatively tackles the subject matter of alternate realities when our main character Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) is forced to jump between universes in order to to be able to stop Jobu Tupaki (Stephanie Hsu), a master at jumping who is a being of chaos and also Evelyn’s daughter Joy in the main timeline. Joy and Evelyn have a contentious relationship already, and the ability to now travel through dimensions both further drives the wedge while also bringing them closer together. The film beautifully weaves together timelines and trauma, using each moment in every timeline that shaped both of these women into exactly who they are and illustrating how very similar they are. The script has fun with this concept while also driving home the need for them not to come together or even understand each other, but just embracing loving the other. This is helped by Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), Evelyn’s husband and Joy’s father, and truly the epitome of humanity at their best. Waymond is kind, understanding, forgiving, and assumes the best for everyone. He is the perfect foil for Evelyn, who stretches herself thin, can be rude, and is overworked and overwhelmed with life and everyone in it. Yeoh and Quan play beautifully off of each other and really sell this married couple going through it. I loved their dynamic the most, and I think the scene of Evelyn learning “to fight” like Waymond and the monologue that proceed it are some of the most beautiful moments in cinema ever. In fact, the acting overall is some of the best I have ever seen. Being subtle in an absurdist action comedy is no easy feat, yet these are believable and moving performances. I absolutely loved Quan in particular, especially his approach to a character that could easily feel annoying or “in the way”, yet he is the heart of the film.
The cinematography is no joke either, and the transition between worlds is always visually stunning and creative, whether a window opens up between someone’s hands or we see the fracturing of the universes. The visuals in this film were nothing short of gorgeous, and I felt honored I got to witness them firsthand. The writing is also poignant but emotionally driven, which lend to the overall ability to sell the narrative to audiences. The only time it lost me was around the ending, when I believe the narrative shifted and tried to drive home multiple emotional points; I believe it would have had more punch if it stuck to one, but other than that it’s an incredible piece of art. Everything, Everywhere All at Once is one of those movies that will stay with you for a long time, and will inspire you to want to create something so moving and inspired.
And that is what good art does.