Director: Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Story By: Dan Kwan & Daniel Scheinert

Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, & Jamie Lee Curtis

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Like the title, there’s a lot happening everywhere all at once, but it all makes sense for the film and also for us in this 3D conscious world… 

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Theme & Story: A-

Pacing: A

Character: A-

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Entertainment Factors

General Public: Interesting Enough

Film Enthusiasts: Worth the $$

Experience Seekers (via Visuals & Score): Interesting Enough

SciFi/Action Psychological Fans: Worth the $$

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TAKEAWAYS:

1. A seemingly overwhelmed woman trying to do it all alone—maintaining a business, making her father happy, trying to have a healthy relationship with her child, and be a present wife—finds herself in an out of body experience where she fights against, questions, and comes to terms with “existing”/“what it means to exist.”

This is Everything Everywhere All At Once

Thematically, the message and story went hand in hand for me—The importance and power of existing/being actively present in, and in control of,  “your now”…all of it. 

Acts Two and Three were the most cohesive for me, as they seemed like a separate, aligned story from Act One, and also helped to connect a few dots in Act One for me such as having a clearer picture to Evelyn’s deeper tensions that I felt were heavily left for implication than recognized in the beginning—Evelyn came off as strong and independent in the beginning vs what is learned in Acts Two and Three. This is my only “issue” with the story, but it’s nothing major. 

Other than that, I found the multiverse component to be very effective with carrying out the theme with the story. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

2 .The visual effects paired with the cinematography was such a smart choice!👍🏾👍🏾

3. Asian security guard/officer… 😍😍😍😩

4. To piggyback of point #1, the idea of doing something weird/outlandish, essentially outside of your comfort zone, in order to access an experience was brilliant.👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

5. With a runtime of about 130 minutes, I really felt the film was super engaging through and through. There was never a moment that dragged to the point that I didn’t leave my seat to pick up the pizza I ordered (and thought would be delivered to my seat…). Act Two is possibly the most engaging of the 3, visually. 👍🏾

6. Not “Ratatouille” 😂

7. OOOOO the paper cut scene… 😨

8. I really loved the fight scene on the staircase. 👍🏾👍🏾

9. Every key character was enjoyable, but our women did the damn thing. I remember reading something a few months ago where the Daniels said they had Michelle in mind for this, and I see why. She did a solid job delivering Evelyn, and I found myself occasionally smiling simply in amazement in Acts Two and Three.

Jamie Lee was another fun watch! I just loved her. 

Stephanie Hsu gave some surprising range, and was gave an unexpectedly strong performance. 

I think my only issue is wanting more of the familial tension to be laid out in Act One to strengthen the overall development. I was able to easily accept it when the smoke cleared, but I couldn’t help but think about how Act One could’ve given more space to seeing the parent-child and parent-parent dynamics a little more. 🤷🏾‍♂️👍🏾

10. The symbolism of Evelyn and Waymond’s relationship via Evelyn uncertainty of the Waymond present at any given moment… 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👍🏾

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Overall #EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce gives The Matrix – meets a matured Alice in Wonderland Through the Looking Glass- meets A Wrinkle in Time – meets the family relationship tension of Turning Red – meets Loki – meets Waking Life

I was excited for this film the moment I saw the trailer back in December (I believe), and it met the expectations I had for the most part..minus some of the comedic choices, which wasn’t expected, but was much appreciated. 

This is clearly one of the most unique and mentally stimulating films of the year (if not The most…), which means it probably already has award slots RSVP’d.