Everything, Everything Movie Review (2017)

A sweet movie about a housebound teen girl with a serious disease who develops a relationship with the boy who moves in next door, Everything, Everything is perfect for YA fiction fans.

I read the book Everything, Everything a few years after it was released in 2015. I had heard that a movie had been made, but I never got around to seeing it until now. Just like any movie made from a book, there are going to be differences, which always makes me nervous, but this one stayed pretty loyal.

Everything, Everything is about Madeline (Maddy), an 18 year old girl who has been diagnosed with SCID, a rare genetic immunodeficiency disorder, and has had to live her life entirely inside her home. Everything and everyone must be sanitized coming in, so only Maddy’s mom (a doctor), Maddy’s nurse Carla, and Carla’s teen daughter are allowed. Sadly, her father and brother were killed in a car crash when she was a baby. One day, a new family moves in next door, and Maddy and teen boy, Ollie, see each other from their windows. They develop a friendship online, and along with that, stronger feelings.

While the plot talks heavily about Maddy’s illness, she is a bright young woman who takes classes online and does as much as she can within her confinement. She wears only white shirts (you assume this is for less potential exposure to allergens? More hospital-like?) and is very close with both her mom and Carla.

The tone of the movie is actually very light and upbeat most of the time. The score reminds me of a gentle ride on a merry-go-round, as they work to keep things feeling breezy.

One of the most interesting things that I was wondering how they would film is the actual interactions between Maddy and Ollie. Most of their conversations take place virtually. In the film, Maddy lives in her imagination much of the time, so you see them separately in a library or a house conversing with each other, but knowing that these are actually emails back and forth.

There are some serious logistical issues with the second act of the movie (and the book), so I encourage you to suspend your disbelief and not ask all of the questions you’ll want to ask about how you know the world works. Just believe me, it’ll be easier for you.

Amandla Stenberg and Nick Robinson are entirely acceptable as Maddy and Ollie and Anika Noni Rose (Hello Dreamgirls) plays Maddy’s caring mom.

This is a heavily YA film, but it doesn’t get overly or underly sentimental or loaded. It is an interesting premise, the actors are enjoyable to watch, and it’s not too long. If you are a young adult fiction fan, you’re going to really like this.

Runtime: 96 minutes

Motion Picture Rating: PG-13

Languages Spoken In The Film: English

Should You Watch It? Yes, if you enjoy young adult films

Did I Cry? Nope

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Available: To rent on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms