Everything Everywhere All at Once

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., Sunita Mani
Directed by: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A struggling woman (Michelle Yeoh) is shocked to discover there are alternative universes as she reluctantly gets swept up in an adventure to save the multiverse.

Review:

Tim: As 2022 progressed, Everything Everywhere All At Once became one of my most anticipated movies of the year. I'd heard it called the "best multiverse movie" ever. It was a sure-fire bet to contend for year-end awards. By all accounts, it was a great movie. I couldn't have been more excited. And, it's really good. I liked it a lot. It's effectively made, pushes more boundaries than almost any movie I can think of, and features great performances. I can't help but feel like it's just a bit overrated. It throws everything up on screen and while much it sticks, it all doesn't. I thought this was an exceptionally well made movie that ultimately got a little caught up in itself. It became more about what it could do, verses what it should do.

On the positive side, the movie is absolutely bonkers. I still can't fully fathom what Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert did here. They told a story that breaks all boundaries, that at times is so absurd, so offputting, so bizarre that you can only marvel at the creative (or insane) geniuses who created this. There's so many moments that defy explanation- the many hot dog hands scenes, Raccacoonie, the shocking use of desk-top trophies... it's absolute insanity. I loved the craziness that this film embraced. That being said, it ultimately became a bit gimmicky. The rock scene was terrific at first, but it all seems to compound as the movie progresses. We're told it's everything, everywhere- the possibilities are endless. But, peering into infinity ultimately means that if everything can happen everywhere, the importance of any one thing decreases. It felt like nothing really mattered in the end- it was too much, too absurd, too overwhelming. The story that is trying to be told shifts into a secondary position. Yes, the film focuses on these characters, but don't forget the hot dog hand people! And those rocks, remember how cool that was with the subtitles? Ultimately, the film's ambition negatively impacts the storytelling. That's not fatal, but it's just enough to cause the film to drop below the "greatness" threshold.

I thought Michelle Yeoh was fantastic. I've loved her for many years now, with her myriad great performances. She's always good, but she might never have been better than here. She gives such an emotional, fantastic performance that showcases her range. She is our conduit into this insane multiversal world. I hope she's nominated for an Academy Award, she deserves it. Ke Huy Quan likewise deserves an Academy Award nomination. He makes his triumphant return to the big screen after a decades-long absence. I was amazed at how good Quan was. It makes you lament his absence- how many great performances could he have given? He's one of the true delights in this film. I loved both Yeoh and Quan and their interactions were among the best of the entire film.

I wasn't a fan of Stephanie Hsu. I'm honestly stunned that she was cast in this role. Her performance routinely feels unnatural, forced. It's like the plot is moving too quickly for her and she's trying desperately to catch up. She has some good moments throughout the film and is called upon to do quite a lot, but she's not always convincing. That hurts the movie in my eyes. Similarly, Jamie Lee Curtis felt miscast to me. Her performance always feels a bit too over-the-top. She needed a bit more restraint. I like Curtis, but it felt like she was acting in a different movie than the rest of the cast. She isn't great. These two are balanced out by a nice supporting performance by James Hong. It was nice seeing Jenny Slate, but she has too little to do. Same for Harry Shum Jr. I liked him here, but he doesn't get enough to do.

I still think Everything Everywhere All at Once is a praiseworthy film. The Daniels direct an absolutely boundary-pushing extravaganza that holds nothing back. Love the story or hate it, they fully commit to telling the most offbeat, original story possible. You've never seen anything like this before. The film deserves great acclaim for the ambition alone, and it helps that they more or less stick the landing (with a few points docked). This is the most original, memorable film of 2022. The Everything Bagel alone was so unexpected, and (while I didn't love it), it's emblematic of the courageous decisions rampant throughout this movie. It never plays it safe, not for a moment. The movie is a bit too long- at 2 hours, 19 minutes, it often does feel repetitive, especially in the lead up to the finale. Covering everything everywhere takes time, I get it. It's too much, though. Ultimately, what starts out as fresh and original becomes a bit tiresome before the film's conclusion.

So, I'd definitely recommend Everything Everywhere All at Once. I felt a huge range of emotions throughout the film, including laughing out loud and groaning uncomfortably. It'll likely be quite polarizing with broad audiences. While I wasn't as enamored with it all as many critics, I'm still a big fan of this film and would highly encourage everyone to see it. We need more movies that take chances like this one.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



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