A One Mann’s Movies review of “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022).
The second of the two multiverse films I saw on a single day (after “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness“), “Everything Everywhere All At Once” came along with an aura of being “indescribable” following its earlier release in other geographies. And it’s a just and fair categorisation, since the movie’s bonkers with knobs on!
Bob the Movie Man Rating(s):
Plot Summary:
Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) is a laundrette owner struggling to make a go of her business with her husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan – yes, “Short Round” from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom”!). Her gay daughter (Stephanie Hsu) struggles to explain her relationship with “good friend” Becky (Tallie Medel) to her aging Chinese grandfather Gong Gong (James Hong) who lives with them. So far, so hum-drum. But all that changes when Waymond starts acting completely out of character, claiming to be from an alternate universe: and saying that Evelyn is the key to saving from destruction not just this universe, but all universes in the multiverse.
Certification:
Talent:
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Stephanie Hsu, Tallie Medel, James Hong.
Directed by: ‘Daniels’ (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert).
Written by: ‘Daniels’ (Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert).
Twitter Handles: #EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce; #allatoncemovie.
Everything Everywhere All At Once Review:
Positives:
- A movie that almost defies description, this is an astonishing feat of creativity from the writer/directors ‘Daniels’. Yes, you could say it’s a mashup of “The Matrix”, Marvel’s ‘multiverse’ ideas, “Parasite” (which the opening distincly reminded me of) and Monty Python (for some of the humour). But it is infused with a novelty all of its own as well and a story that has real heart and emotion within it. I am very tempted (in fact, I think I will) to stick a bet on this one right now for winning the Best Oscar for Original Screenplay next spring. I also think it will win Best Editing as well, so I might go for the accumulator double! (Note: having just tried, I can’t find a bookie open to take the bet yet… will keep trying!)
- Michelle Yeoh is fabulous as the bamboozled every-woman thrust into a manic world she doesn’t understand, and might get a Best Actress nomination as a result. Also outstanding is Jamie Lee Curtis, clearly having the time of her life playing the IRS official with attitude!
- The visual effects are spectacular and for certain sequences rather show up the much more heavily funded “Doctor Strange” movie. A trip that Evelyn has through all of the huge number of multiverses she inhabits is a phenomenal sequence of subliminal images. (Note though, as the warning at the start of the film suggests, this could be triggering for anyone suffering with epilepsy).
Negatives:
- During the first hour of the film, I was sure that I’d be dishing out an easy 5*s for this one. But then, despite moments of supreme invention (the raccoon, LOL; the rocks, LOL squared), the movie outstayed its welcome for me. It’s structured in three parts (“Everything”; “Everywhere” and “All At Once”) and – although I didn’t look at my watch – the “Part 3” caption must have come up at around the 2 hour mark. A couple left the cinema at that point (although, fortunately, Part 3 is not nearly as long as the first two parts). But at nearly 140 minutes, the movie is (imho) at least 30 minutes too long, repeating various elements (“Yes, yes, we get it”) and lacking discipline. Less would have been SO much more for me.
- Mid-film, we head into a scene involving butt-plugs (I kid you not). This will be to some folk’s taste (some in our cinema were engulfed in raucous laughter at this) but to me it lowered the tone of the movie in an unnecessary way. (I’m far from being a moralistic prude, but I found the tone-shift jarring.)
Summary Thoughts on “Everything Everywhere All At Once”:
A24 are really building up a formidable reputation for releasing novel and crowd-pleasing films. For “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is a movie that I found astonishing. But, I’m sad to say, also a little disappointing too. I really wanted to give this 5* (and I’m not ruling out the possibility that on a second viewing I may wish to upgrade my rating). With a bit more discipline and control of the running time by the writer/directors, this would have been an easy 5*. But, even as it is, it is a movie – like “Parasite” – that is a MUST SEE at the cinema at least once.
In the battle between the multiverse films – “Everything Everywhere All At Once” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” – EEAAO is likely to stay in my memory longer. But if I was forced to only be able to watch one of them a second time, I would probably go for DSitMoM, just for the sheer entertainment factor. So, it’s an honourable draw in my book.
Trailer for “Everything, Everywhere All At Once”
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxN1T1uxQ2g .
