Writer-director duo Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known for their work on Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens and Swiss Army Man, collaborate on this mind-bending and surreal actioner. Michelle Yeoh plays middle-aged Chinese immigrant Evelyn Wang whose family owns a coin-operated laundromat. While dealing with a multitude of problems—including an IRS audit, an ill father, marital issues, and emotional distance between herself and her daughter, Joy—Evelyn suddenly finds herself drawn into a zany and quite dangerous quest. It sends her into a multiverse where she encounters different versions of herself and her family members and discovers that she may be the only one who can save the world…and her daughter. Although well over two hours long, this unique film is thoroughly entertaining for every second of its runtime.
Everything Everywhere All at Once was shot in the anamorphic format at 2.8K and 3.4K resolutions and arrives on Ultra HD disc with a variable aspect ratio and Dolby Vision high dynamic range, which HDR metadata suggests is put to good use with a MaxLL (Maximum Content Light Level) of 1,000 nits and a MaxFALL (Maximum Frame Average Light Level) of 206 nits. The film has a colorful palette with pops of bright primaries and neon that look especially vibrant thanks to the Dolby Vision color grading, but it also goes through more restrained variations, such as the mundane hues of the family’s laundromat or the near monotone white (with black accents) that dominates a later scene. Overall detail is strong, but given that this is a digital production, the picture isn’t as pristine as you might expect, with the filmmakers opting instead for a more textured appearance.
The Dolby Atmos mix conjures a strong sense of height with sounds such as voices from a television or radio placed overhead, while music and swells of effects emanate from the surrounds, though the motion of certain effects is somewhat restrained. Dialogue is clean throughout and the low end goes deep, providing appropriate boom for the various effects and fight sequences.
We get a number of behind-the-scenes featurettes here and the director’s commentary in particular is a welcome addition and well worth listening to on a second or third viewing of the film. The single best bonus is the aptly titled 40-minute-long “Almost Everything You Wanted Know About Everything Everywhere All at Once.” An HD Blu-ray disc and digital copy code are also included.
Ultra HD 4k Blu-Ray
Studio: Lionsgate, 2022
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1/2.39:1
Hdr Format: Dolby Vision, Hdr10
Audi Format: Dolby Atmos with TrueHD 7.1 Core
Length: 139 Mins.
Directors: Dan Kwan, Daniel Scheinert
Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong
