Review of “All That We Love”

When writing a film about everyday life, circumstances and emotions, it is important that the audience feels like they are seeing these familiar things in a way they have never seen them before. Since the viewer may have experienced many of the situations depicted in a more everyday story, each element is dissected. Director Yen Tan Everything we love is a lesson in how to make the ordinary seem extraordinarywhere every detail of the film comes together to make everyday situations seem compelling. The sensitivity with which Tan treats each of his main characters, beautifully played by Margaret Cho, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kenneth ChoiAnd Alice Leehighlights how each of us, no matter how ancient and universal our problems may be, is still compelling in our own way.

Only a few lines were spoken in the film when I had tears in my eyes. and we are immediately shown Cho’s character Emma holding her beloved dog Tanner in his final moments. This scene could easily have been skipped and told through dialogue alone, but Tan’s use of long camera shots to summarize Emma’s life with her sick pet creates an experience just as emotional as if we’d known Tanner for much longer. Yan uses soft lighting in Emma’s house, highlighting spots that may not seem important but create a peaceful atmosphere before we are thrown into the chaos that lies beneath.

What is “All That We Love” about?

Everything we love follows Emma, ​​a woman grieving the death of her beloved dog Tanner; an event that stirs up old feelings about her long-ended marriage, her change of employer, and her daughter Grace (Lee), who plans to move to the other side of the world with her boyfriend. Emma leans on her best friend Stan (Ferguson), who lost his husband Craig to illness and whose style of grieving, including the disposal of Craig’s beloved chair, is the exact opposite of how Emma would proceed. We already know the plot, but the main characters are still lovable.

Emma’s biggest problems aren’t with her dog, her ex, her daughter, or her career, but her despair that everyone around her feels the same way she does on each of these issues. Emma believes her alcoholic husband deserves a millionth chance, regardless of the fact that Stan and Maggie believe this is a disaster waiting to happen. Emma can’t understand why one of her co-workers, who has been with Emma’s successful furniture company for over a decade, wants to leave, despite admitting that the company has changed drastically over the years. This string of Emma’s mistakes does not make her a sympathetic character. but the film’s inclusion of the loss of her beloved pet in its opening moments is crucial in establishing a connection with her, despite her unawareness of those around her. Since we saw how Emma dealt with Tanner, we know that she too possesses the same grace.

The biggest hurdle in Emma’s relationships with others is her inability to let them grieve in their own wayboth with Stan and the loss of his long-term partner Craig, and with Maggie’s grief over the metaphorical loss of her father to his addiction. In a deeply uncomfortable scene, Emma gifts Stan a photo of him and Craig on the beach, a gesture that seems right to Emma but is completely inappropriate considering Stan’s way of moving on, which includes removing most signs of Craig’s existence aside from the memories he holds in his heart. This photo, along with the accompanying gift card, is a double whammy for Stan, which he swallows down for as long as he can until he can no longer hold in his disappointment at Emma’s insensitive ways. Maggie, on the other hand, tells her mother early in the story that she doesn’t need her father’s apologies and that she is traumatized by his behavior during her childhood, which included moments like picking her up from elementary school while drunk. This doesn’t sit well with Emma, ​​who is trying so desperately to fill the void left by Tanner by copying and pasting her ex-husband into the role. It’s an incredibly human gesture, and yet we’re watching this disaster unfold in slow motion as Emma falls back into old habits.

A cast of comedy actors showcase their dramatic acting talent

Despite its predominantly dramatic undertones, The audience will recognize a large part of the cast Everything we love from the comedy world. Lead actress Margaret Cho made her breakthrough in the entertainment scene as a stand-up comedian, appearing mainly in comedies and her own stand-up specials; Jesse Tyler Ferguson is best known for his role as Mitchell in Modern family; Atsuko Okatsukawho plays Emma’s ex-sister-in-law, is a hilarious stand-up comedian; Miss Pylewho appears as Emma’s colleague, has appeared in cult comedies such as Galaxy Quest. But despite their backgrounds, each of these experienced comedians more than demonstrates their dramatic talent.

Cho is primarily the character we focus on the most, and it’s incredible to see her in such a different role. While her character Emma is often frustratingly predictable in her actions, Cho’s portrayal keeps us hooked to every predictable move she makes. Despite the familiar script, we are captivated by Cho’s Emma from the film’s opening scene, and Her captivating interpretation of the character is what will keep us captivated throughout the journey.

Ferguson is fantastic as Stan, a role that could easily have been played in a monotonous way, as the character’s methods of grieving involve repeated attempts to reinvent himself. It would be easy for an actor to make Stan’s actions, like posing with a new motorcycle for dating-app photos or participating in a “group of three,” into cliches, but Ferguson’s choices as Stan have an underlying search for self that makes these situations humbling and turns them into clear references to his attempts to find an identity outside of his late husband. It is a subdued performance in every respect.

When telling stories on the big screen, directors often try to create stormy emotions through larger-than-life spectacles, but Tan’s direction is in a tender, intimate way that does not force emotions on the audience. It’s the close-ups of leftover food in the microwave, the light shining on Tanner’s empty bed, and the sound of dog food being poured into an empty tin bowl that describe the scene better than any explanatory dialogue could.

No, the storylines are nothing new: most viewers have either lost a beloved pet, gone through a divorce, or grieved the loss of a loved one or spouse, and so the film is probably best suited to those who have recently experienced one of these losses. Additionally, the script is predictable from scene to scene. This might frustrate those who wish Emma’s character hadn’t been so predictable. However, the way these stories are captured conveys an important message. Through his cinematic choices, Tan proves that we are fascinating creatures, even though the hardships we go through have been overcome by so many before us. In the end Everything we love is a film about permission: permission to grieve in our own way, allowing others to do the same, and knowing that we still deserve acceptance, even in our less-than-perfect moments.

REVIEW

Everything We Love (2024)

In “All That We Love,” Margaret Cho demonstrates her dramatic skills and director Yen Tan captures the confusion of grief with sensitivity.

Release date

June 8, 2024

director

Yen-Tan

Duration

90 minutes

Main genre

comedy

Authors

Toni Liford

Per

• Director Yen Tan has a breathtaking ability to make grief beautiful in every way.
• The soulful performances of the cast, known primarily for their comedic chops, are incredibly impressive.
• Margaret Cho’s spectacular portrayal of Emma makes the character’s predictable actions worth sticking around for.

Disadvantages

• Emma’s character is predictable in every one of her actions and reactions.
• Although the film will appeal to many viewers, the key plot points are nothing new.

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Everything we love had its world premiere at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.