Everything Everywhere All at Once

Community Rating

Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Writers: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Stars: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan

Runtime: 2h 19m

MPAA: R

Released: April 8, 2022

Few have developed a talent for creating bizarre art that works for general audiences quite as well as the Daniels. Their previous feature, Swiss Army Man, showed the incredible potential that the duo of Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert have together. With Everything Everywhere All at Once they have truly perfected their craft. In it they have made a film that is equal parts strange, hilarious, thrilling, and heart-warming.

The Daniels start this project with an excellent script. Everything Everywhere All at Once follows the character of Evelyn Wang, a Chinese immigrant and mother who owns a laundromat with her husband Waymon Wang. Evelyn learns that only she can save everything by tapping into skills that alternate versions of herself have in other parallel universes. This crazy setup is driven by a truly heartfelt drama involving the Wang’s and their daughter Joy. Together they face a myriad of problems from tax issues, to insecurities, and relationship woes.

What keeps this insanity grounded is the subliminal acting from each cast member. Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn with fire as her daily frustrations are clear to see for the audience. Her skill with martial arts comes in handy as well in a number of excellently choreographed fight scenes. Stephanie Hsu makes Joy a dynamic and thrilling character that goes in directions you’d least expect. Then there’s the pleasant surprise of Ke Huy Quan, coming back from a long absence on the big screen to play Waymond with care and emotion. Each of these main characters are crucial to the overarching narrative development.

Even supporting characters each have their own pleasing arcs. James Hong plays Gong Gong, the traditional tempered father of Evelyn. Tallie Medal is Becky, the girlfriend of Joy. Both are involved in some crucial moments with their lead counterparts. Another big surprise comes from Jamie Lee Curtis who shines as Deirdre, an imposing IRS agent. Her character in particular goes in amusing directions that come as a complete shock but are incredibly satisfying.

The eclectic style of the Daniels shines brightly in Everything Everywhere All at Once. This is shown through the gorgeous cinematography of Larkin Seiple. It can be equally warm or cold, chill or chaotic, dramatic or silly. The camera moves within scenes in such a way that draws the audience further into the plot. This makes it a perfect compliment to the strange script and direction from the Daniels.

These visuals are edited to perfection by Paul Rogers. What could have devolved into random nonsense instead flows stunningly well. The film moves at a blistering pace that never gives the audience a chance to drift their focus. The editing works in sync with the cinematography and acting to masterfully deliver all the various tones present in Everything Everywhere All at Once. Intense moments of anxiety, dread, action, depression, and joy are all crafted with great detail. More impressively, these contrasting tones never work against each other or cheapen dramatic moments.

Complimenting this is exhilarating music that works to make the movie all the more grand. Son Lux has created a soundtrack that is a great listen both on the screen and as a standalone piece. Like the film it straddles a delicate line between the artistic avant-garde and blockbuster crowd pleaser. Despite its strangeness, parts of it are sure to get stuck in your head after the film is over.

With Everything Everywhere All at Once the Daniels have created a masterpiece. Delightful weirdness abounds from the film. From it there seems to be a total commitment to explore all the bizarre places a multiverse could bring. Yet wonderful characters that feel grounded each have strong character arcs within a story that excites from beginning to end. All phases of production have come together to deliver what is arguably the best film of 2022, if not the best film in years. It is an instant classic that must be seen.

★★★★★