'All Of You' Review: A Meditation On Quantifiable Companionship
Simon thinks he’s his best friend Laura’s soulmate. Judging by the look of adoration she gives him, you’d think she feels the same way. There’s only one problem. The two are totally incompatible - or so a special test tells Laura. In their world, you can take this test which helps find your perfect match with unbelievable accuracy. Being the good friend that he is, Simon can only sit back and watch as Laura gets matched with another man. But it’s only a matter of time before Laura begins to question her relationship and how quantifiable companionship truly is.
Although it sounds like a great idea for a Black Mirror episode, it is the basic premise of the new film All Of You. Ironically, it’s the feature directorial debut of Will Bridges, who most may recognize as one of the masterminds behind one of the greatest episodes in the anthology series, “USS Callister.” Now, this isn’t the first time Bridges and co-writer Brett Goldstein have attempted to tell this story. It’s not even the second. After making a short film about the concept over a decade ago, the duo got to build upon it with the short-lived AMC series Soulmates. This version of the film is a happy medium of the previous versions. It’s not too short and certainly not too long. And what it lacks in a would-be fleshed-out fantasy of a series, it more than makes up for here with the more grounded focus on its two leads.
This is not your average science fiction film because other than its main plot point, there’s little else that ties it to the genre. It’s also not your average romance because the story unfolds through a series of interactions between the two characters over the course of several years. It’s a deliberate script choice reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally - or the more recent We Live In Time. But it’s meant to simulate the kind of tunnel vision that develops when two people fall madly in love. And make no mistake. Simon and Laura are in love with each other.
Granted, it does take them longer to realize it than the audience. But it’s how they navigate those romantic feelings, despite a world that tells them who they should be with, that really makes the film stand out. On one hand, there are no laws that say Simon and Laura can’t be together. They can exercise their free will at any given time. But on the other hand, what if their feelings fizzle out? The test has proven to work for so many others, so what are the odds they are the exception?
Bridges and Goldstein’s script is a great reflection of what it means to be in love and the sacrifices that go into being someone’s everything. And it works because the actors playing Simon and Laura are not afraid to showcase the entire spectrum of emotions that go into a relationship.
Funny enough, Goldstein plays Simon. While most known for his comedic role in Ted Lasso, that’s just about where the comedy ends. As Simon, he’s a serious romantic whose light-hearted charm is only ever reserved to heal Laura whenever she feels down. It’s the kind of dramatic turn you hardly see anymore from comedic actors, one that further distinguishes Goldstein as a chameleon who may very well be able to do anything. If his final scene doesn’t move you to tears, then surely the scene where he describes his love for Laura as an addiction will.
Imogen Poots is equally heartbreaking at Laura. Having played several extremely meaty roles over the last two decades, this feels like one of her best. Despite having strong feelings for Simon, she is genuinely torn about leaving her match for him. Those feelings are further complicated after she has a baby and builds out her life away from Simon. The first time she finally musters the courage to show him how she feels, she immediately retreats. Not because she doesn’t want him anymore but because she feels the rush of regret. She doesn’t want to make the wrong decision. At the same time, she constantly questions if not being with Simon is the wrong decision. Her passion and her sadness are all felt without her having to say a single word sometimes. In a perfect world, this is the kind of performance that would get awards recognition. But Poots should probably find it rewarding enough that she’s nailed such a complex and compassionate character.
The film’s only real con is that the back and forth between Simon and Laura can get a bit repetitive. That’s not a sleight at the film’s elaborate will-they-won’t-they mystery, but a criticism about the unimaginative ways in which the characters find themselves breaking up and then reuniting again - and again. Still, All Of You is one of the most imaginative love stories in recent memory.
On the surface level, it’s a film about how often technology distracts us from connection. While the title suggests the two star-crossed lovers want everything from each other, it could also be made to mean that they want to keep each other intact. After all, true love is measured by the lengths we go to protect the relationships that matter most.