Everything, Everything is a bit predictable, but the story is still well told, the pacing feels appropriate, the acting is strong, and the sets are beautiful. This movie will not appeal to or please everyone, but for viewers who like romantic movies, this is worth seeing at least once.
“What if you couldn’t touch anything in the outside world? Never breathe in the fresh air, feel the warm sun on your face . . . or kiss the boy next door? Explore the heartfelt romantic love story of Maddy, a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who, due to an illness, cannot leave the protection of her home, and Olly, the cute boy next door, who ignites her desire to escape safety and sacrifice everything for love.” – Official Synopsis
Everything, Everything, directed by Stella Meghie, is based on the book of the same name by Nicola Yoon (more on the book below). The movie stars Amandla Stenberg (The Hunger Games), Nick Robinson (Jurassic World), and Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog).
Everything, Everything is a book by Nicola Yoon that was released in 2015. (In the movie’s Special Features, we learn about how motherhood and protecting her daughter inspired Yoon to write the story.) The movie closely follows the plotline of the book.
We are introduced to Maddy (Stenberg) on her 18th birthday. Maddy was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) as a baby and has been confined to her clean, sterile house for almost her entire life. She is cared for by her mother (Rose) and a full-time nurse (Ana de la Reguera). Though she has access to the Internet and countless books, she has very few connections to the outside world.
Maddy fantasizes about leaving her house and meeting other people. One of the movie’s strongest elements is its portrayal of these fantasies. Maddy’s biggest dream is to swim in the ocean, and in one of her fantasies, we see her floating alone in the ocean. Peaceful and content. Maddy also takes an online architecture class, and many of her fantasies are set in building models she has made for class.
The change that acts as the story’s catalyst is the introduction of Olly (Robinson), Maddy’s new neighbor. He and his family have moved in next door. Maddy and Olly make eye contact through her window and begin a friendship over text messages. This is Maddy’s first love, and the desire to meet Olly in person is something she keeps secret from her mother.
How far can this friendship go? Will meeting in person kill Maddy due to her SCID? Is risking death for the possibility of love worth it to her? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out.
The movie’s biggest weakness is the predictability of the plotline. If you watched the trailer, you probably have a good idea of where this is going; however, I will say that this movie is not nearly as sad as the trailer makes it look. In fact, there are several funny moments thrown in throughout.
Though predictable, the pacing is fine. Scenes don’t feel too brief or too long, and you still have time to meet the characters, understand their motivations, and watch them develop. Often, movie adaptations of books feel too rushed and choppy, but that’s not the case here.
Another strength of this movie comes from its three leads. Each provides an excellent and often emotional performance. Stenberg is wonderful in her depiction of Maddy’s curiosity and desire to see the world, and Rose is excellent as the mother who is constantly torn between protecting her daughter’s health and making her happy. Robinson also delivers a strong performance. To be honest, after seeing him in a few episodes of Melissa & Joey, I wasn’t expecting much from his performance. I was pleasantly surprised to see that he makes Olly a layered and developed character. Robinson adds depth to what could be a generic, forgettable role.
Special Features
• Trapped in Love: The Story of Everything, Everything (5:03) – This segment introduces the novel’s author and shows how the book was turned into a movie. (*Found only on the Blu-ray disc*)
• Deleted Scenes (16:15)
Blu-ray
The Blu-ray is presented in 1080p HD with an aspect ratio of 1.85:1. The movie looks excellent and makes frequent use of blue and green tones. Everything (no pun intended) looks sharp and crisp with lots of detail. For example, one of Maddy’s first fantasies that we see involves a wide shot of her floating in the ocean. The water is a deep blue, and the detail of the water rippling across the surface is easy to see. Really, it’s a beautiful movie.
Audio
The movie features DTS-HD MA: English 5.1 audio. This isn’t the most detailed or sharp audio, but it doesn’t need to be for this movie. Here, English 5.1 works very well. Dialogue is always prioritized and easy to hear and understand. Music choices and placement all feel appropriate and don’t distract from their scenes. Sound effects are used well. Many of Maddy’s fantasies are enhanced by the use of sound effects. At one point, she imagines that a conversation she and Olly are having over texts is a face-to-face discussion. While we see them talking across a table, a faint text alert is heard with each new line of dialogue. This use of sound effects really grounds the fantasies and often reminds viewers of what Maddy can’t have in her real life.
Takeaway
Everything, Everything is a bit predictable, but the story is still well told, the pacing feels appropriate, the acting is strong, and the sets are beautiful. Speaking of those sets, the transfer to Blu-ray really excels in terms of the movie’s locations. It’s a pretty movie. The special features aren’t particularly unique or memorable, but the short behind-the-scenes feature does a nice job of connecting the movie to the book. All in all, this movie will not appeal to or please everyone, but for viewers who like romantic movies, this is worth seeing at least once.
