We know you still can’t move on from the sequel to Disney’s phenomenal animated movie, “Inside Out 2,” which just recently hit theaters. But, you might want to forget about “Inside Out 2” for now as there’s a movie that deserves a place in your heart, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
Have you heard of this movie? Perhaps you have as one of the reasons the year 2022 in the world of movies became unforgettable was because of this. Why is “Everything Everywhere All at Once” such a huge hit? We’ll explore this in our discussion.
About This Movie
The genre where “Everything Everywhere All at Once” belongs isn’t what you’ll see in most of your favorite movies. In 2022, the world was introduced to this film, and they immediately fell in love.
It is an absurdist comedy-drama film. Absurdist is a genre that focuses on the characters’ experiences in situations wherein they couldn’t find any inherent life purpose, most often represented by highly meaningless actions and events that question the certainty of existential themes like truth or value. In literature, some of the most notable absurdist fiction are Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” and Samuel Beckett’s play “Waiting for Godot.”
Directed by two Daniels, Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once” incorporates elements from literally several other genres and film media, including, but not limited to, sci-fi, surreal comedy, fantasy, immigrant narrative, animation, and martial arts films.
It stars “Crazy Rich Asians” actress Michelle Yeoh who plays Evelyn Quan Wang, a Chinese-American immigrant who, while the IRS is auditing her, discovers that she must connect with parallel universe versions of herself to prevent a strong being from destroying the multiverse. That’s an absurd concept.
In the movie, Yeoh finds herself doing some martial arts action scenes, which brings her back to her younger years in the industry when she portrayed roles in martial arts movies.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” also stars Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, James Hong, and more.
Award-Winning
According to Box Office Mojo, the international sales of this movie have reached more than $66 million.
That’s not it. It also trended online as it won seven of the 11 awards it was nominated for at Oscars 2023, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Yeoh, Best Supporting Actor for Quan, Best Supporting Actress for Curtis, Best Editing, and Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for Scheinert and Kwan.
It also brought home accolades from the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and SAG.
What The Audience And Critics Say
Not just because of those awards, but “Everything Everywhere All at Once” has swiftly won viewers’ hearts. Najya Gause of The Harvard Crimson wrote, “Viewers walked out having formed tacit bonds with the rest of the audience. They screamed, cried, laughed, and held their breaths together. ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ kept its prominence because watching it was an experience nobody wanted to miss out on.”
Gause added that another reason for the obsession with the film was its insanity and how it urged the viewers to find the beauty in its absurdity.
Meanwhile, Dream Life Lab, a personal development blog, said, “What I’m trying to say is that it was so refreshing to see something done right. My most common gripe with movies is that the dialogue, plot, interactions, background, or something about the movie just feels feigned, fake, illogical, or staged. The flow of the acting, lines, story, everything just made sense.”
Kirsten Acuna of Business Insider stated that the movie explores “a battle of good versus evil in a race to save the world,” adding how its many relatable layers make it worthy of watching over and over again.
It also received praise from the Rotten Tomatoes community. The Critics Consensus said, “Led by an outstanding Michelle Yeoh, ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ lives up to its title with an expertly calibrated assault on the senses.”
Why Is ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ A Huge Hit?
1. Radical And Innovative Originality
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” managed to captivate audiences with its multi-genre narrative, seamlessly blending everything from sci-fi to comedy. Furthermore, its unique multiverse concept, where Evelyn navigates through several alternative realities, offered a fresh take on storytelling, making the film stand out in the industry filled with so much clichés.
2. Outstanding Editing
Without exceptional editing, a film would be a flop. This is the cornerstone of a movie’s success. In “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the rapid transitions between various universes are handled with needle-like precision and all-out creativity, ensuring its complex narrative remains unified and engaging. Moreover, the flawless blending of various visual styles and tones in one film reflects the editing team’s skill, artistry, and talent, creating a dynamic and immersive experience for the audience.
3. Universal, Heart-Piercing Themes
Sure, a movie may have been edited well, but without themes that touch on the hearts of audiences, it would also be a flop. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” made sure it explored profound topics such as family, the search for meaning, and identity. Viewers witnessed Evelyn’s journey through the multiverse, which led to her understanding of herself and her relationships (particularly with her daughter) even more. This emotional depth, injected with humor and introspection, managed to connect with viewers on a deeply personal level despite the absurdity of its overarching theme.
4. Superb Acting
Yeoh and her acting did justice to the movie. There’s no question about that. Her superb acting and those of the other cast members elevated the film’s compelling narrative. Yeoh was the perfect actress to portray such an inspiring character as Evelyn. The supporting cast, such as Stephanie Hsu and Ke Huy Quan, delivered equally impressive performances that deserve a standing ovation. They delivered authenticity and emotional depth to their roles.
Nothing is quite like “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” From how it impressed the Oscars jury to its radical originality, it deserves the attention other sensational films get.
