Be Kind in ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’

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In Writers and Directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s Everything Everywhere All At Once, the familiar version of Michelle Yeoh, who plays middle-aged Chinese immigrant Evelyn Wang, trades kung fu strikes with Jamie Lee Curtis’s IRS Auditor Deirdre Beaubeirdra in hysterical effect. That’s just in one of many Multiverses in the Everything Everywhere narrative.

Everything Everywhere is not your garden variety Marvel Comics Multiverse. The Daniels’ Multiverse is something like The Matrix on acid with a whacked sense of humor. Where else do you see Evelyn and Deirdre as lovers having hotdog fingers? Just saying.

Michelle Yeoh plays Evelyn, married to Waymond Wang, played by Ke Huy Quan. The Wangs own and run a laundromat. Evelyn cares for her aging Father Gong Gong, played by James Hong. He disowned Evelyn when she married Waymond before they moved to America. Gong Gong has only mad disrespect for Evelyn, who was a profound disappointment as his daughter.

Smart and funny Stephanie Hsu plays Joy, Evelyn’s gay daughter. Joy’s girlfriend is Becky, played by gentle Tallie Medel. Apparently, Evelyn seems more concerned that Joy is in love with a caucasian. Much like Evelyn’s relationship with her Dad, Joy gets that she’s a profound disappointment to her mother.

The nearly unrecognizable Jamie Lee Curtis as Deirdre conducts an IRS Tax Audit on Evelyn and Waymond. Suddenly, Alpha Waymond, who can jump between different Multiverses, contacts Evelyn. Only she can save the Multiverse from destruction. Joy’s Multiverse persona, the evil Jobu Tubaki seeks vengeance and retribution upon the Multiverses.

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At times, Everything Everywhere is needlessly confusing and hilariously convoluted. Still, in its heart is the story of the unconditional love between mother and daughter. Michelle and Stephanie are both amazing.

Michelle Yeoh is the heart and soul of Everything Everywhere. In distinct departure from her cool martial arts hero persona, Michelle is vulnerable, whimsical, and poignant as Evelyn. In the various multiverses, Evelyn sees the lives she could have had, be it the glamorous action movie star or opera singer.

Ke Huy Quan’s Waymond reminds Evelyn, “Every rejection, every disappointment has led you to this moment…” What’s possible in our disappointment, our failures? Just asking. Ke is great in his humorous humility and surprising martial arts skills.

In the narrative arc of Everything Everywhere, Ke’s Waymond dispatches Jobu Tupaki’s assassins, saving Evelyn. He says, “The only thing I do know is that we have to be kind. Please be kind.” That’s how Waymond rolls. That’s true power in the Multiverse, in our universe, too.

In the heartfelt scene, Evelyn agrees to let Joy go, to find herself. Evelyn tearfully says, “I just want to be here with you.” Everything Everywhere All At Once is about love, kindness, and family. The constants across the Multiverse and in our universe, too. Everything Everywhere All At Once is something special in this universe, as well. Just saying.