Coming off of their childish, but earnest Swiss Army Man, directing duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert return again to get inventive and weird in the multiversal Everything Everywhere All At Once. A science fiction action comedy that has Michelle Yeoh in an odyssey across the multiverse that moves at a breakneck speed and may as well be some of the most emotionally satisfying films that I’ve seen in quite some time. Added with fantastic performances and an inventive script, Everything Everywhere All At Once showcases a filmmaking voice that will perhaps inspire the next generation of the medium.

 

Yeoh plays Evelyn, who runs a laundromat with her husband Waymond, played by Ke Huy Quan in a comeback role after a twenty year gap in acting. Evelyn and Waymond find themselves being audited by the IRS, and while family issues also boil up, Evelyn has herself dragged into a multi universal quest to defeat an evil that’s spreading across the multiverse. That itself is quite the amazing premise and what the Daniel’s are able to do with their filmmaking provide an unique experience. They get absurd, existential, meta, chaotic, calm, gargantuan, intimate, etc. It’s… well, everything! Perhaps their stream of consciousness may feel a bit overwhelming here, but as soon as everything starts to fall into place, it becomes an incredible ride. Even though its story is demanding, they make everything work.

 

At it’s heart it provides a compelling case on how younger generations are so existential and cynical through Stephanie Hsu’s fantastic performance as Joy, Evelyn and Waymond’s daughter. Her role becomes incredibly complex as the film goes on, and her place in the narrative makes me feel like this will resonate deeply with the Generation Z audience. Yeoh is absolutely fantastic in the leading performance presenting the struggles and frustrations of the immigrant experience and she has an absolute blast channeling Evelyn’s multiversal journey as shedevelopeds varying skills and experiences a roller coaster of emotions. However, Ku Huy Quen was absolutely showstopping with his performance as Evelyn’s husband, Waymond. It acts both as a response to Joy’s cynicism and Evelyn’s frustrations, and provides a possible solution for a better future.

 

Everything Everywhere All At Once is incredibly overwhelming in the best way. Not only is it sprawling and gigantic, but it’s also an amazing emotional journey that will resonate with a lot of people. It’s got fantastic performances, a unique story and just dazzling and great filmmaking.  The Daniels are possibly one of the most interesting new voices in this generation of filmmaking, and I’m just incredibly excited for whatever they create next. This is one of 2022 more essential films.