Let's all go to the movies... alone

HALLIE EPHRON: The recent months have been filled with new experiences for me… the double whammy of coming out of covid and learning to live alone. Some have been more pleasurable than others.

On the plus side, two weeks ago I went to the movies. In a movie theatre. First time since before, covid. First time EVER (cue drum roll) ALONE!

It was amazing in many ways.

First amazing part, there was actually a movie out there, in a movie theater, that I wanted to see.

EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE got a rave review and “critic’s pick” in the New York Times. They labeled it: “Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi.” The reviewer’s description: “an exuberant swirl of genre anarchy” hints at how all over the place this movie is. In a good way."

As the saying goes, they had me at Hello

Avoiding crowds, I went to the first showing on a week day. There were barely a dozen cars in the massive parking lot and only 2 other people in the stadium seats. Still I stayed masked.

The ticket, even with my senior discount, was expensive. The coming attractions were excruciating – much too loud and went on too long, without a single other movie I am remotely tempted to see.

 The movie, however, lived up to every bit of its billing. It's smart, funny, and at times mind-blowing. And deserves a massive screen.

It stars Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn Wang. She is totally believable as a harassed, 50-ish mother and laundromat owner doing battle with the IRS. And time traveling in the multiverse. Her character is an amalgam of mind bending and quotidian that hallmarks this film in which everything bagels are religious icons.

Yeoh starred in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), the only martial arts movie (aside from The Matrix) that I have ever seen and, by the way, adored. Twenty years later she’s still doing most of her own stunts, but more than that playing a totally relatable character.

Evelyn’s daughter Joy is played by Stephanie Hsu who is so brilliant as the girlfriend of the Marvelous Mrs. Mazel’s ex husband on Netflix.

Evelyn’s husband, who's trying to get her attention, is played by Ke Huy Quan. Instantly recognizable (he played Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) he turns in a brilliant, endearingly sweet performance.

And then there’s Jamie Lee Curtis whose role I will not divulge because it’s too delicious to spoil the dawning realization that comes upon you when you figure out who she plays. DO NOT READ THE REVIEWS… they will only spoil the fun.

Bottom line, I thought the movie was fantastic. I’ve made everyone I know go see it so I have people to talk to about it. And now I’m telling you….

Trigger warning: the popcorn is expensive.