Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) and her husband, Waymond (Ke Huy Quan), own the local laundromat, and their home is located on the floor above. As the film begins, we soon learn more about Evelyn and Waymond’s marriage and the challenges surrounding them. Some of these relate to the stress of the business, Evelyn struggling to accept her daughter’s new relationship status and worrying about what others will think, and Evelyn looking after her unwell father.
Evelyn has a strange encounter when the family attends an appointment with Deirdre Beaubeirdra (Jamie Lee Curtis) about the family’s ridiculous tax claims on their laundromat business. But, Evelyn is about to discover that even bigger problems require her attention. She learns that the fate of her world now lays in her hands. But it’s not just her world that needs saving- it’s the entire universe. Evelyn must now embark on the greatest adventure, entering the many worlds within the multiverse. As she does so, she experiences the various paths of what her life could have been while saving all life and existence as we know it.
Everything Everywhere All at Once is best described as a comedy, adventure, fantasy, and to my surprise, action. The film’s plot is highly quirky, witty, and wild. Nothing about this film is predictable and is comparable to a roller coaster ride. Once the basic introduction and plot outline pass, the film moves at a fast-paced with lots going on. With this type of film, all you need to do is sit down in your cinema chair, strap yourself in for a ride and enjoy the experience.
Directors Dan Kan and Daniel Scheinert (best known for the previous film, Swiss Army Men) have a taste for random, crazy, and over the top comedy. Even when compared to their previous films, this one somehow still manages to go up another notch. This film had me smiling and laughing multiple times, but I’ll confess a couple of gags didn’t work as well as I would have preferred. Laughter aside, this film has some serious heart behind it. It’s a fun film where viewers will experience various emotions and themes from the start. I loved seeing the adventure, no matter how crazy and silly some aspects are. The actors are committed to giving everything they’ve got, including the lead; Michelle Yeoh, who is no surprise, is wonderful.
Visually, I can’t fault this film. If you don’t quite understand what’s going on, don’t stress. The film is still visually entertaining and stunning, packed with many remarkable moments that feel fresh and creative. One example was how the aspect ratio altered to better suit the atmosphere as Evelyn visits throughout the multiverse. Costumes are stunning and, again, creative. Sound effects don’t disappoint, and action scenes are unexpected and pleasing. In the end, I found myself feeling highly impressed with this film not just because of its entertaining and crazy plot, but because it’s also a very clever film.
Overall, let me ask you, have you ever been on a wild roller-coaster? Well, welcome to the equivalent experience in cinema. This film is witty and wild! Nothing about it is ever boring. Instead, it is highly creative and clever, and I adored that the cast committed everything they had towards it, including its lead, Michelle Yeoh, who is, again, tremendous. Sure, a film about the multiverse may seem to be a familiar concept. Still, viewers will feel many emotions and have a blast experiencing it thanks to clever visuals, costuming, and touching themes about family and relationships. It’s almost perfect as a film, but some gags don’t quite land on the right foot. As for the plot, it’s filled with entertainment and energy. There is so much to see while travelling around the multiverse in this film that I cannot wait to conduct another rewatch in cinemas to better understand some aspects of this crazy and amusing film.
9.5/10
25th March 2022
Written by Peter Walkden
WALKDEN ENTERTAINMENT
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