By Emily-Rose Toohey
In a movie-watching landscape that is predominantly ruled by Marvel superheroes, having a small, non-IP, original film make any noise is a difficult feet.
However, Everything Everywhere All At Once has managed to break through this noise and rise above box office expectations – deservedly so.
Helmed by mainstay music video directors the Daniels, the film follows a middle-aged Chinese woman named Evelyn (played by Michelle Yeoh) who owns a laundromat with her husband Waymond (played by Ke Huy Quan).
On a seemingly boring day discussing taxes with their accountant (played by Jamie Lee Curtis), Evelyn’s life completely changes.
In a confusing, almost psychedelic turn of events, she learns that there’s a multiverse and experienced individuals are able to essentially travel through time and access their different lives alongside the skills these other versions of themselves have.
Evelyn’s reserved husband is taken over by a more bad-ass version of himself from planet Alpha, which confuses and surprises our protagonist.
Soon, Evelyn discovers that she’s the only person who can defeat the world’s biggest multiversal threat: a hardened version of her daughter, Joy.
Joy’s ‘villain origin story’ resulted from being mentally pushed too hard by her mother during multiverse jumping practise.
Her mind completely snapped and suddenly, she has access to absolutely everything (too much) and is able to travel freely through every dimension.
Although the plot may seem hard to follow at first, the two hour and 15 minute movie goes by in the blink of an eye.
From the very first scene, audiences are hooked.
Every frame is shot interestingly, with bursts of colour and fast-paced action as the characters are thrown from universe to universe.
The performances from every actor is also astonishing, especially that of Michelle Yeoh in a complex role.
It’s fascinating that this film coincides with the release of another multiverse-themed film, Marvel Studio’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
As a result, both films are easy to draw comparisons to, but let it be known that Everything Everywhere All At Once is the superior film in every way.
It has heart, humour and is essentially a critical analysis of the meaning of life.
Why should we care about our small existence in the grand scale of life and infinite lives in the multiverse?
At its core, however, is the complicated mother-daughter relationship between Evelyn and Joy.
This drives the plot and the ending serves as the final emotional gut-punch.
All in all, Everything Everywhere All At Once is one of the best films of the year and is well worth your time.
I recommend heading to a cinema immediately and consuming what’s sure to be remembered as an awe-inspiring piece of art.
Honestly, it’s hard to believe this movie ever got made due to its absolute boldness.
