Everything , Everywhere by MONALISA TAILOR , MD
By now , you have probably heard of Everything Everywhere All at Once . It just wrapped a shiny , shimmering award season . Like most Oscar movies , you are wondering , is it worth seeing ? I am going to tell you a resounding yes . The hype is worth it . The movie is fantastical and absurdist . In this brainchild of the “ Two Daniels ,” ( Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert ), we are introduced to a Chinese immigrant family who owns a laundromat . They are trying to make it in the U . S . Her dad is coming to visit from China , the laundromat is in financial trouble , and they are having trouble finding good help . The initial parts of this movie vary from Mandarin to Cantonese to English .
I ’ m going to tell you now , you can ’ t watch this movie while working on your EMR . For immigrants , or children of immigrants , this first segment , watching the main characters hustle in their laundromat is going to feel very real . As someone who worked in my parents ’ motel since the age of 6 , this resonated with me . When they go to the tax office , they don ’ t have their daughter with them , and the IRS agent questions if they will understand her English for this conversation . While in the IRS office , Evelyn ( Michelle Yeoh ) is informed she ’ s part of a multiverse , and she is the key to saving it . The movie jumps onward from there in three parts .
If you have ever wondered what your life may have been like if you had taken that opportunity , gone to that college you wanted to go to , never left your home country or had hot dogs for hands , Everything Everywhere All at Once will explore those different storylines . In the end , we find acceptance and resolution . There ’ s a wild ride to get to that end , but worth it .
As a South Asian American , this movie resonated given it was the first time in my memory I saw a Hollywood movie feature immigrants as the main characters . You saw their struggle , the dynamic of leaving their home country , and the difficulty in leaving what you know for a promise of a better life . You even saw their native language featured with subtitles . This couldn ’ t have existed even 10 years ago .
The movie ’ s twists and turns are made by the actors who play these characters . Michelle Yeoh , a Malaysian native , who came to Hollywood in Tomorrow Never Dies and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon , was only featured in supporting roles until this came along . Ke Huy Quan , whom you remember as Short Round in Indiana Jones , plays Evelyn ’ s husband , Waymond . The year prior to doing this movie , Mr . Quan was struggling to find acting work and insurance and thought he wasn ’ t going to have any further acting roles . Jennifer Hsu , who plays their daughter , has only had supporting roles herself . I recognized her from the Marvelous Mrs . Maisel series as Joel ’ s new love interest . James Hong , who has been an active actor since 1954 , and you may know best from Big Trouble in Little China , shines in each scene . Last , but not least , we have Jamie Lee Curtis , whom we know from all those horror movies and yogurt commercials : you get the idea , she hadn ’ t been taken seriously by Hollywood , as a byproduct of Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis . She truly stands on her laurels in this movie . This ensemble ’ s own struggles to be heard , to be seen and be recognized for their talent is finally acknowledged . Knowing their background made this movie even richer .
The Oscars , for once , got it right . Run , and watch this movie now . Otherwise , you might end up in a multiverse where your life went a different direction - since you didn ’ t watch this movie !
Dr . Tailor is a practicing internal medicine physician at Norton Community Medical Associates : Barret and is the current KMA President .
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