"I should say we shouldn't push our luck, but I can't. I don't want to." - Maddy, Everything, Everything

Halloooooo!

Everything, Everything is a beautiful coming of age story of a girl with SCID who is ready to risk everything, and she means everything, to finally live the life she wants.


** spoilers **
2017
Director: Stella Meghie
Cast: Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika None Rose, ...
Length: 1h 36min
Genre: Romantic, drama
Rating: 8/10

This is a beautiful coming of age story. Maddy and Olly are both in their late teens and are not two people you'd pair together. Maddy has never left her house as she suffers from SCID (Severe Combined Immunodeficiency), has a positive look on life and wears all whites and pastels. Olly is from New York, moved around a lot, has a bleak view on the world and wears all black. Quite the opposites, right? The story starts as every American romance should begin: through their bedroom windows.

The story hits me right in the feels at all the pivotal moments. I just rooted for the two main characters. Both have their own struggles, but right from the off, they're really there for each other. No silly games are being played. It's plain simple: "I like you, you like me. Let's hang out." All the awkwardness of a first meeting after first texting for days included. It's disgustingly sweet, actually.

Amandla Stenberg, optimistic Maddy, is best known for her heartbreaking death scene as Rue in the very first Hunger Games back in 2012. Nick Robinson, who plays the shy and surprisingly vulnerable Olly, is best known for his roll in 2015 Jurassic World starring Chris Pratt. I'm very excited to see further work on them both.

The movie is visually stunning. Despite the fact that Maddy is restricted to her house, I escaped with her to the outside world through her 'excellent imagination'. But at the same time, her feeling of being trapped inside this bubble that is her life was almost tangible. Combined with a beautiful soundtrack and score and I felt all the emotions Maddy goes through right in my core. If shedding a tear whilst watching a movie isn't new to you, be sure to have a tissue at hand.

Later in the film, when Maddy actually ventures out, to Hawaii no less, I kind of got jealous. The sense of the two main character escaping reality, their reality, of going on an adventure together, made me dream as well. To escape reality is probably the most wonderful feeling in the world. And I would like to see a Humuhumunukunukuapua'a in real life!

They've also found an elegant solution for all the texting that is going on between Maddy and Olly without going back to the dull 'show text on screen'. Instead, they are having their online conversations 'face-to-face', in this alternate universe which gives a very dream like feel to the entire movie. Escape reality, éh? Maybe that is why I'm so drawn to this movie.

It is based on a book with the same name and I'm definitely going to read it as well. There were a few subtle references not explained in the movie, but fans of the original source material would sure appreciate these little details.

With Everything, Everything you have your straight forward young adult movie, intertwined with a disease, heartbreak, and an adventure.

I highly recommend.

Thanks for reading!
xo - Sara

P.S. Something extra ;)