Like all wonderful things, this one begins with a tax audit. Seriously, that’s how this roller coaster ride begins and it doesn’t let off until you’ve experienced Everything Everywhere All at Once. Huh, in that case, you’d think the film would clock in at no more than ten seconds, right? Chalk it up to yet another thing I cannot answer in this review. But that will not deter me.
Not long ago, we all saw Turning Red, a cute Pixar film featuring a strained mother-daughter dynamic. Turning Red addressed parental relationships while giving us a puberty metaphor in the form of the heroine morphing into a giant red panda. Likewise, Everything Everywhere All at Once also explored mother-daughter relationships in a Chinese corner of North America, but it clearly viewed Turning Red and announced: “Your daughter turns into a red panda? That’s adorable. Hold my beer.”
Adjacent to a lackluster laundromat in a lackluster inner city, there is what appears to be a lackluster Chinese family, the Wangs. Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) is the head of household; the universe of the Laundromat goes through her. While Evelyn isn’t an ogre, her mind is often preoccupied by Everything Everywhere All at Once. Her mousy husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan) needs to file for divorce –literally- just to get her attention. Her daughter Joy (Stephanie Hsu) brought home a significant other, a female significant other to be precise just to introduce to grandpa (James Hong). Let’s see if she can get Evelyn’s attention any better than Waymond.
On the crucial day in question, every Wang is due in front of IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdra (Jamie Lee Curtis).
Before I continue, I must talk a little bit about the multiverse: as I understand it, the multiverse is a series of infinite realities very similar to ours, but where one choice has led to a key difference
between possible realities. Changes can be small, like deciding to walk to work one day instead of drive, or –say- large, like the version of reality where Facebook takes trolling seriously, hence Russia gains no influence in the 2016 election and Trump loses handily to Hillary. Imagine what’s different in that world.
The important part to remember is that in each iteration of the multiverse, you’re the same and different at the same time – your DNA is exactly alike, but in another universe, you made a choice that led to a different version of you. For instance, I one universe, I pursue my dream of becoming a stand-up comic … only to get slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars. In another, I make a career of motion pictures … only to get slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars. And in yet one more reality, I become an introverted narcoleptic mortician … and still I get slapped by Will Smith at the Oscars (?!)
In the elevator up to inspector Beaubeirdra’s desk, Mr. Meek turns into The Meek-ualizer. Waymond becomes a completely new man and warns Evelyn of choices and peril ahead with the universe in the balance. Evelyn is confused, but eventually comes to realize that there exist alternate versions of her reality and her husband.
So what does she need to do to face the danger that awaits? Access the version of black belt kung fu master Evelyn.
And how is she going to do that? This is one of the film’s best gags – to access ”other yous,” one has to commit to an outrageous and uncharacteristic act that, in turn, creates a pathway to the least you-like you. In this case, Evelyn must confess a heart-felt “I love you” to the IRS agent in order to access the Evelyn that knows how to crouch tigers and hide dragons.
With that, the madness begins. And in another universe I’ve spoiled every last bit of fun because I cannot suppress giving away how delightfully wacky this movie is. I’m serious; you have to see Everything Everywhere All at Once to believe it, to revel in it, to enjoy it as it was meant to be enjoyed. Personally, this film made me remember why I love film. Great film -and nothing less than great film- does that.
So I won’t give away running gags about rocks and piñatas and raccoons and several surprising developments in evolution. Suffice to say, this is gold.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is the most ambitious and energetic film you’ve seen in years. It works as a comedy. It works as a family drama. It works as a sci-fi. It works as an LGBTQ testimonial. It even works as a Jackie Chan-type action film. While your mileage may vary, and while you might compare Everything Everywhere All at Once to several other films, there is no question that you’ve never seen a film quite like this. This is why I go to movies. This is why I write about movies.
Bottom line: Film fans, I don’t know what you have to do to see Everything Everywhere All at Once, but go do it. And take friends; you’ll want to talk about this forever. Everything Everywhere All at Once is a revelation in imagination, humor, and visual insanity. This is the kind of movie that will show up in forums, discussion groups, magazines, memes, and historical annals until movies are no longer a thing. Despite a modest initial reception, this film is destined to have a greater impact than any of the past dozen or so Best Picture winners. Even if you don’t appreciate what Everything Everywhere All at Once has to share, you will want to be aware of this crazy, brilliant, and unique piece of art whenever, wherever it comes up all at once.
Hopefully, in a different universe, I’ve written a better review.
Evelyn didn’t know where to begin
To cleanse her life from economic sin
But then she heard voices
Who gave her some choices
And now she’s her own evil twin
Rated R, 139 Minutes
Director: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Writer: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Genre: All of them
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Me
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Those without an appreciation for the outrageous
