‘Everything is everywhere at once’ ★★★
Address Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert
interpreters Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis
premiere June 3, 2022
Few films arrive with the sheer audacity and inventive energy that defines Everything Everywhere All at Once. The duo behind the project, Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known collectively as Daniels, previously teased the edge of oddball cinema with Swiss Army Man. This new work catapults that same fearless vibe into a sprawling, genre-bending odyssey that blends action, comedy, science fiction, and a tender family drama. Its core centers on a Chinese American woman who wrestles with an unfulfilling job, a strained marriage, and a daughter who seems almost impossible to understand. From this emotionally grounded starting point, the film explodes into a multiverse-spanning journey that casts the characters across alternate lives, confronting chaos that threatens to unravel the very fabric of existence. The result is a cinematic tapestry that asks big questions about identity, belonging, and the power of love to anchor us through the most chaotic moments.
The world Daniels creates is a rapid-fire playground where every imaginable possibility can become real. Office buildings morph into battlegrounds, ordinary tasks become epic trials, and the most unlikely of tools emerge as powers. The film nods to a wide spectrum of influences and nods to Hong Kong cinema, American genre films, and classic pop culture through clever visual gags and kinetic editing. A Chinese opera singer, a kung fu student, a star from a beloved musical, an anthropomorphic piñata, and even a sentient stone all populate this universe-hopping quest. The storytelling rhythm is relentless, with swift camera moves and a montage style that feels like a sprint through multiple movies in one single, cohesive experience. Everything Everywhere All at Once earns its title by compressing enormous scope into a single, dazzling 140-minute ride.
From a craft perspective, the film is a showcase of bold choices executed with technical polish. Performances anchor the spectacle, with Michelle Yeoh delivering a performance of remarkable range that balances grit, humor, and vulnerability. Ke Huy Quan and Stephanie Hsu provide dynamic counterpoints, each carving out moments of empathy and resilience even amid the most outrageous set pieces. Jamie Lee Curtis leaves a memorable impression, adding a sharp edge to the tonal shifts while staying rooted in emotional truth. Yet the film is not without its tensions. Its avalanche of ideas can feel overwhelming, and some viewers may sense a fatigue as the narrative careens through rapid-fire riffs and surreal episodes. The filmmakers lean into a restless energy that can blur character motivations, yet this same energy infuses the film with a contagious sense of wonder and daring.
In the final tally, Everything Everywhere All at Once stands as a bold, unapologetic piece of cinema that celebrates imagination, resilience, and the stubborn, stubborn beauty of human connection. It invites audiences to see the value in all the small moments that stitch a life together, even when those moments occur in the most improbable of circumstances. The Daniels’ audacious fusion of humor, heart, and kaleidoscopic invention invites reflection on how small choices ripple through the broad fabric of existence. While it may push some viewers to the edge of saturation, for many it delivers a thrilling, uplifting reminder that love and family can illuminate even the most chaotic universes.”