Everything Everywhere All At Once is a film that, on paper, by all means, should not work; its story is convoluted with so much happening, with elements taken from various conflicting genres such as action, comedy, drama, romance, absurdist fiction, and science fiction.

And yet, it is one of the most expertly crafted and passion-filled films I’ve ever seen.

While the movie is crammed with so many genres, themes, and unconventional ideas, it somehow manages to excel at everything it tries. Its generic action movie premise centered around the multiverse—a concept that has been overused and grown stale in modern media—is harnessed to enhance its narrative and its themes, rather than serving as a simple gimmick; the multiverse is presented as a parallel to the overwhelming abundance of possibilities and choices in modern life.

Within infinite possibilities, there is so much to be envious, confused, and disappointed in. The choices we made or didn’t make may have driven us away from a more successful or happy life. And yet, this mindset of trying to find meaning in everyday life by chasing extraordinary achievements is what often blinds us from appreciating what we already have.

Without explicit spoilers, the film ties together all its characters and plot lines in service of conveying the theme of cherishing the seemingly insignificant gifts we have, instead of trying to find meaning in a meaningless world.

Picture Credit: Google