A chaotic sci-fi adventure that is laugh-out-loud funny and is as touching as it is thrilling. Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) navigates the burden of saving the multi-verse. And no, it’s not a Marvel movie!
By Kim John
The latest addition to Prime is Everything Everywhere All at Once from writer-directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert – the “Daniels” known for “Swiss Army Man”.
Michelle Yeoh, former Bond Girl (Tomorrow Never Dies) and martial arts queen, takes on the lead role of Evelyn Wang. She is not averse to tackling challenging roles and being a general kick-ass actress. In Everything Everywhere All at Once, it’s not so simple for Michelle to master one version of Evelyn. She masters dozens, including Blind Evelyn, Chef Evelyn, Kung Fu Actress Evelyn, an Evelyn with hot dogs for hands (this really is hilarious), and Evelyns made of piñatas and rocks.
We are introduced to Evelyn as a Chinese-American laundrette owner and her hectic life as she navigates the receipts and bills required for an upcoming tax audit, the fractured relationship she has with daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu) and husband Waymond (Ke Huy Quan) and her ailing father (James Hong) who demands so much of her time. To make matters worse, Waymond is trying to serve Evelyn with divorce papers and Joy is upset about her mother’s reluctance to welcome her girlfriend (Tallie Medel) into the family. This balancing act just scratches the surface of the chaos which is about to unravel throughout the movie.
It’s not long before we are taken on this chaotic ride into the multiverse. Whilst Evelyn is about to declare her taxes, she’s warned, by an alternate universe Waymond, that she may be in grave danger. Evelyn crosses into another dimension while tax auditor Deirdre Beaubeirdra (Jamie Lee Curtis) tries in vain to keep her attention. We discover that quirky supervillain Jobu Tupaki has created a sort of “black hole” that threatens the multiverse – and she is hunting Evelyns down. The movie moves between universes so quickly, that you hardly have time to be confused. The chaos in Evelyn’s life and mind represents attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which Daniel Kwan was diagnosed with as an adult. The film portrays neurodiversity with nuance, showing Evelyn as someone who really is feeling everything, everywhere, all at once.
There is something in every scene to capture your eyes, the cinematography is incredible with music selected to add humor, tension and sentimentality.
The less said about the rest of this movie the better, as you really do need to see it to enjoy its comedic timing, emotional balance and beauty. Everything Everywhere All at Once combines Kung-fu battles, hilariously funny set-pieces and some pretty weird and wild scenes too! I found myself gasping with realization during a meaningful conversation that Evelyn has with her daughter Joy in a universe where they are just rocks. It’s the type of film that warrants being watched time and time again, and each time you would notice something new. Beyond all the absurdities and bizarre but well-executed fight scenes, this story is simply about the fractured relationship of mother and daughter, with neither of them being able to articulate their thoughts and feelings.
It also explores the notion that each of us has untapped potential inside us, and that choosing different paths may just result in different outcomes for us in our lives. It also emphasizes the point that no matter how isolated we may feel, or how bleak things may be, we can find happiness and meaning from those we love and that, sometimes, kindness and optimism is a way of fighting back against our challenges.
The movie also sends a message to the industry. It’s box office success shows there is a hunger for movies with female leads. Female leads over 50; female leads of color; movies that chart the joys and struggles of immigrant communities and movies that are partly subtitled (the characters in Everything Everywhere All At Once speak Mandarin and Cantonese as well as English).
There is even chatter swirling that Everything Everywhere All at Once could be in contention for some Oscar nominations, including that as Best Actress for Michelle. Though time will tell if this fantastic movie gets the recognition it deserves. Recognition should also be given to Michelle’s co-stars in this film, all who have equally challenging roles within the varying dimensions.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is blindingly brilliant, dazzling and original. It’s easily taken a spot in my top 5 movies ever seen, and will be recommended whenever anyone asks for movie recommendations.
