EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING – Rated PG-13 – 1 hr. 36 mins.
Starring Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose and Ana de la Reguera
Based on the book by the same name by Nicola Yoon, we meet Maddy Whittier (Amandla Stenberg) living out her young life trapped inside her home, trying to ward off the bacterial and viral menaces of the outside world.
As fate would have it, a rather adorable young man named Olly (Nick Robinson) moves in next door, causing Maddy to take a more intricate look out the windows of her glass prison.
When a relationship develops from a distance, leave it to her nurse and friend Carla to help them bridge it, taking a chance with a very irresponsible encounter, just hoping for a chance to see one another in person.
As this young love continues to blossom, Mom Pauline (Anika Noni Rose) must intervene, as keeping her daughter safe, and away from the germs that could kill her, even from a casual encounter with Olly, is her ultimate goal in life.
When the fact that they can’t be together like normal teenagers becomes too much to bare, Maddy decides to break all the rules, and head out with Olly to paradise she has aways dreamed of…
But, as this tragic love affair unfolds, it seems that Maddy’s immune system is on overload, taking her back to the hospital in a tragic state once again.
Sad at her decision to leave, and trying to make it up to her mother, Maddy is thrown into a tailspin when she finds out that the truth about her illness may be much different than the reality her mother has been forcing her to live…
I give EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING a rating of WAIT AND CATCH THIS FILM ON DVD OR NETFLIX: Even though the Female lead character this time around adds a new spin to this storyline, we have actually witnessed it play out before with Jake Gyllenhaal in BUBBLE BOY (2001) and John Travolta in THE BOY IN THE PLASTIC BUBBLE (1976). That being said, I think that this film will definitely pull at the heartstrings of all the teenagers movie goers out there ~ and they will love it ~ as this films sweet and innocent demeanor and love story will captivate them. EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING also takes some twists that aren’t totally in your face, but if you pay attention from the beginning, they are there all along. Stenberg is not only beautiful, but a talent we will most definitely see more from. Robinson is adorable and he is going to make all the girls swoon with his sweet and endearing performance in this film too. So why the less than perfect rating you ask? For me, it just wasn’t the caliber of a film, or story, that I must make you spend money to view on the big screen. Of course every young lady across the nation is planning to view this film in the theater this weekend, but I personally feel that EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING is one of those lazy Saturday or Sunday afternoon movies that you’ll want to catch in the comfort of your own home ~ as its endearing to watch this story play out, its just not so endearing that you have to view this film on the big screen, and waste any time while your out for a night on the town!!!
Kathy Kaiser
MATINEE CHAT with Kathy Kaiser 