It’s tough to be a teenager. Romance issues. Unfortunate haircuts.
And don’t forget the perpetual angst and striving to be cool. These issues are all present in “The Everything”, but it’s a particularly arduous period for the sibling characters in the film. They also must deal with burgeoning superpowers – and ones that aren’t particularly useful.
“The Everything” is the Fall 2018 instalment of the seasonal campaign films that have become a defining component of KENZO – following outings by such directors as Gregg Araki, Sean Baker, Ana Lily Amirpour, Kahlil Joseph, Natasha Lyonne and Carrie Brownstein. Since 2011, co-creative directors, Carol Lim & Humberto Leon have been at the helm of the near 50-year-old French fashion house. This is a particularly personal endeavour for Leon, as it is his behind-the-camera debut. He served as both director and screenwriter, a daunting workload. The film is rife with references and characters close to Humberto’s life and heart. There are cameos from multiple family members and friends, such as director Spike Jonze, and was partly filmed in his hometown of Rosemead, California.
Superstar Milla Jovovich plays the harried matriarch, ‘Georgie’, of the extended paranormal clan. The cast is rounded out by Hollywood heavy hitters Regina Hall and Jay Ellis along with talents Alexandra Shipp, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Sasha Frolova and introducing Leo Reilly & Zsela.
The film is redolent of iconic 80s and 90s teen flicks that shaped Humberto’s upbringing. The film reaches its crescendo (as many quintessential teen films do) at homecoming. Luckily, mom was chaperoning the dance and has some skills of her own.
“I’ve always been fascinated by dumb, useless superpowers,” explains Leon. “I looked at all their powers almost as the kind of qualities that you get as a human being, whether it’s a big forehead or big ears. I wanted the moral to be that you should accept what you have.”