Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh) runs a large launderette with her dependable, but much put upon husband Waymond ( Ke Huy Quan). The business isn't going at all well. Just when the financial authorities in the form of Deidre (Jamie Lee Curtis) are about to close them down, an inter dimensional rift opens up. Her husband momentarily becomes Alpha Weymond,from another alternative world. Evelyn is being sought out to save this whole multiverse system from collapse and take over by an evil version of her daughter Joy, called Jobu Tupaki ( Stephanie Hsu).
The film that follows is a scatter gun attempt at an absurdist sci-fi comedy You cannot, however, fault this film for its visual ambition and execution. I'm sure everyone involved had a hugely enjoyable time, playing around with the idea of multiple universes intersecting and crossing over from one to the other. Parodying film, pop and cultural references along the way.
My Husband absolutely adores it and thinks its one of the best films he's seen this year. And I'm less enamoured shall we say. Temperamentally inured to the big complex concept, geeky flash bang wallop special effect heavy film. I found the whole thing hugely overblown and remarkably shallow. Any attempt at injecting a bit of human warmth and empathy into the proceedings, ending up trite and mawkishly awkward. But I imagine this polarity in our differing responses to this film might indicate its primary 'Marmite' nature.
The title tells you all you need to know about the film. It has Everything, from Everywhere all happening All At Once. Once the story gets going it creates this unrelentingly manic world. Just when you think it just couldn't get any madder, it hurtles ever more frenetically forward, carried away on the wave of its premise. Inexorably rolling on towards being far far too long. There are some knowing film references, which if you are able to spot them you might find mildly diverting. Witty quips and sarcasm generally get steamrollered under the ever advancing visual juggernaut. I couldn't wait for it to end, about half an hour before it actually did.
Does it really have anything truly valuable that just needed saying? I'd take a wild guess at No. Its simply an exercise in visual masturbation working itself up to a self congratulatory climax. Its undoubtedly clever, but for me it totally lacked any allure or affectionate charm. So, not one for me, I'm afraid.
CARROT REVIEW - 2/8
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