I am fully aware that I am late to the party here, but I recently just saw the Everything, Everything movie and man was I impressed. Honestly, when it comes to YA movie adaptations it can really be hit or miss, so my expectations heading in are generally low. So when Max and I settled in at home to watch our rented DVD (I know, it’s shocking we still rent DVDs, I thank the RedBox movie rental kiosks at Safeway) we were surprised to find that this movie was really well done, full of just the right amount of quirky metaphors, awkward teenage moments, and chemistry that was actually believable between the leads.
Warning: This review will contain spoilers for the book and movie
Thoughts on Everything, Everything
- The aesthetic was on point and beautiful throughout this movie. It really captured the sterile and quiet vibe of Maddie’s existence.
- I’ll admit I don’t remember the book verbatim (I read it a few years ago), however I think I remember Maddie being half Japanese? Which I don’t think was addressed in the movie.
- I loved the metaphor of the astronaut, and how he kept appearing in scenes. I can’t remember if he was in the book or not, but it was really clever. It was also super clever that they’d play out text conversations between Olly and Maddie by having them be in her architectural models that she was building, walking around and interacting like their conversations were happening in person. It was a cool touch and seemed to be reminiscent of the drawings and journal entries that were in the novel.
- One thing that I disliked when reading the novel was that the relationship between Olly and Maddie felt very insta-lovey. I actually didn’t get that sense as much in the movie. The actors have really good chemistry and really encapsulated that feeling of falling fast but authentically for someone when you’re a teenager, and I really felt the intensity of their relationship.
- The relationship between Maddie and her mom was really well done. Of course, Maddie’s mom has done something really messed up (pretending her daughter had an auto-immune disorder, never letting her leave the house, and basically actually crippling her immune system in the process) but despite this HUGE betrayal, it’s clear that the emotions Maddie is feeling toward her mom are complex and her mom isn’t portrayed to JUST be a cold, unfeeling villain for the narrative.
- Total random side note but Maddie’s wardrobe was on point. I loved the mix of pastel colors to her traditionally white wardrobe as she progressively falls in love with Olly.
- I thought like some of pop songs felt sort of out of place in the film given that it’s actually pretty emotionally intense and has a “quieter” feel. Especially when they get to Hawaii, some of the music choices felt like they were trying to drive in the message that “this is a YA film for teenagers despite the gravity of the plot and subtlety of the writing.”
Overall: I really enjoyed the Everything, Everything movie! It managed to keep the nuanced tone of the book and translate the unique elements and complex emotions onto the screen really well. It gives me hope that with so many YA books and series being used as the basis for movies lately, that we will get a lot of quality films as a result!
Did you see Everything, Everything? What did you think of movie adaptation? What is the best YA movie adaptation that you’ve seen in a while? The worst? Let me know in the comments!
I read the book as soon as it came out and fell in love with it, so to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would like the movie (plus I never really watch movies alone and my husband had zero plans of watching this with me). Anyway, I finally watched this like 2 weeks ago, and I really enjoyed it. I thought the movie was really beautiful, and I loved the way both of the characters just had this realistic relationship going on that didn’t feel forced or anything. They really did a good job with this one.
They did a great job! I feel like it had the same quiet vibe as the book did without being boring (which I think can happen more for me in movies than in books) and I’d love to see Nicola’s second novel adapted as a film in the same vein too!
Agreed! I really loved this adaptation. I was curious about how they would handle all of the texting and time the two weren’t right in front of each other, because it would be boring to watch a movie where the love interests are never around each other in person. They did a really good job with the metaphors and other ways of showing their conversations!
Yes, it was so well done! I loved too the running themes of them meeting in the architectural models that she worked on during the day!
I haven’t seen this one yet! I didn’t love the book but I did enjoy it so I’d be interested in checking this movie out at some point – Amandla Stenberg is wonderful and I believe the actor playing Olly has also been cast as Simon in the adaptation of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda? So I’m interested in seeing what he’s like. Glad to hear it’s a decent adaptation! =)
Yes I think he has too! Honestly the two of them were so great together, I was a bit surprised (I find YA book to movie adaptations can be really hit or miss). I put off seeing this one for a while but I really ended up enjoying it! Now I just need to read Simon before the movie comes out….
I agree, this was quite well done. Amandla is such an amazing actress, honestly I don’t know if anyone else could have even pulled that off- especially at such a young age! I mean, it IS a “quiet” kind of movie, and I think she nailed it. I liked the quirky bits, too! My only real issue was that I knew what was going to happen obviously, and maybe in a book/movie like this, that isn’t the best, for the sake of entertainment? But yeah, it was good! I’m glad you liked it too!
Yeah, Amandla was amazing! I honestly think the two main leads were really well cast (which in my experience, isn’t always the case in YA book to movie adaptations).