Movie: Everything Everywhere All At Once
Production Companies: IAC Films, Gozie AGBO, Year of the Rat, Ley Line Entertainment
Directors: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Producers: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Mike Larocca, Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, Jonathan Wang, Peter Tam Lee
Scriptwriters: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Main Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Kee Huy Quan, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr, James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis
Release Date: March 25th 2022 (US)
Running Time: 139 minutes
Certificate: 15
Introduction
Well we all knew this was coming at some point after the Oscars? Despite heavy competition, particularly from the Banshees of Inisherin, Everything Everywhere All At Once took home Best Picture. And Best Actress. And Best Supporting Actress…. You get the point. Anyway, what better, incredibly belated time is there to finally review the best multiverse film which came out in 2022? Yeah, I’m starting all the debates with this review… So, without further ado here is my review of this utterly mad yet compelling film.
Synopsis
Everything Everywhere All At Once follows Evelyn Wang (Yeoh), a Chinese immigrant, who struggles with balancing her family life, job at a laundromat, caring for her ailing father and every American’s favorite institution: The IRS and a possible tax audit. What follows is a mental multiversal film with Evelyn jumping between multiple different timelines all while having to fight enemies of these respective universes. Oh, also there’s obviously a ton of multiverse jokes with multiple variants showing up and engaging in kung fu fights in an IRS building.
This is all kickstarted by Alpha-Waymond, a variant of Evelyn’s husband Waymond (Quan), who informs her of the multiverse and its connections to all the choices she’s ever made. Oh and if that’s not enough there’s also elements of philosophical ideas, family relations and kung fu action all mashed together by the plot. So with the synopsis out of the way, let’s get into the analysis part of my review.
Analysis
Michelle Yeoh’s Performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once
All I’m going to say is there’s a reason Michelle Yeoh won the best Actress Oscar last weekend. So what makes her performance so great? Well, just about everything if I’m being honest. But if I had to pick one scene as a great example of her performance, I’d properly have to pick the scene where she, her father and Waymond are first in the IRS offices. Here, Yeoh alternates between her normal self, zoned out during an IRS meeting and her looking confused about being in a cleaner’s closet with Alpha-Waymond. Not only does this show her versatility in the performance but it also shows off the two main comedic parts of it too. One is the deadpan, absent mindedness that the film expertly intercuts with the scenes of her and Alpha-Waymond hiding out in the cleaner’s closet and him trying not to get her to freak out.
Also, the way Yeoh merges both performances together is brilliant with the Daniels using a crescendoing score to knock Evelyn back into her original timeline. Also, the hilarious scene of Alpha-Waymond briefly coming out in the lift not only catches Evelyn off guard but the audience as well which serves to show how much Yeoh deserved the best Actress award. Oh, also her facial expressions are on point which is another example of her great performance.
Editing in Everything, Everywhere All at Once
Continuing my analysis of Everything, Everywhere All at Once I’m going to discuss the film’s editing and why it’s another massive positive for the film. Yet again, I’m going to the first scene in the IRS office. Firstly, the great editing of Alpha-Waymond and Evelyn in the closet and Evelyn in the office really ramps up the comedic value of the scene. This is because the edits are both really smooth but also really well done. Basically, the edit puts both scenes side by side which allows for a really funny comparison. Also, the editing for the fight scene between Alpha-Waymond and the IRS security guards is another great example of the film’s editing.
Take the part where he prepares to fight the guards and the edit really makes you believe the fight is going to begin straight away. Only for Alpha-Waymond to pull out a chapstick and then the fight begins. This use of editing is not only hilarious but also reminiscent of Edgar Wright’s editing in the Cornetto trilogy to generate comedy from faking out the audience with the edits. Is there anything that Everything, Everywhere All at Once?
Ke Huay Quan’s Performance in Everything, Everywhere All at Once
To conclude my analysis of Everything, Everywhere All at Once I’m going to discuss the performance of the happiest man in Hollywood: Ke Huay Quan’s performance as Waymond and Alpha-Waymond. Firstly, his whole performance is brilliant, especially how it works with Michelle Yeoh’s performance. While Yeoh’s performance sees her look near permanently stressed, Quan’s performance is more on the verge of being oblivious and genuinely sweet. Again, an example of this is him constantly trying to help Evelyn despite her never seeming interested in his help most of the time.
This is perfectly seen when Waymond tries to help out Evelyn while she attempts to work through the taxes. Despite him genuinely making an effort, like talking with Joy’s girlfriend Becky or making noodles, his efforts often go unrecognised which plays into his performance. Also, the physical charisma side of his performance is fully on display when he becomes Alpha-Waymond and starts fighting the IRS security guards. Here, he manages to incorporate some hilarious action star qualities like when he grabs gravel from a fish bowl, puts it in his fanny pack before using it as a mace. Honestly, what a performance….
Summary
To summarise Everything Everywhere All at Once, this is a terrific film which truly deserves all the success it’s had. Whether it’s the writing, philosophical concepts or performances the film is superb in so many aspects.
Overall Rating: 9/10 –
Target Audience: 15+
Content Warning: Moderate Sex and Nudity, Moderate Violence and Gore, Moderate Profanity, Mild Frightening and Intense Scenes, Mild Alcohol, Drugs and Smoking
Recommendation: Yes
