All Together Now
Over the past few year , Netflix has arguably become the self-aggrandising provider of young grownup substance since The CW first emerged from the WB . Some might want to turn up their nose at the wide variety of YA movies and telecasting shows Netflix has amount up with , but it ’s hard to deny that it ’s been quite successful for the behemoth banner . Its latest addition to the YA canon , All Together Now , is decidedly different from Netflix ’s most democratic films likeThe Kissing BoothandTo All the Boys I ’ve Loved Before . That does n’t inevitably mean it ’s skillful , though . establish on the YA novelSorta Like a Rockstarby Matthew Quick , All Together Nowcontains bit that will undoubtedly make consultation jump for joy , and star Auli’i Cravalho ( best fuck for voicing Moana ) shines . At the same clip , the film has its issues . Despite its fair amount of positives , All Together Nowfeels both too secure and too distant when it come to its mettlesome subject subject .
Amber Appleton ( Cravahlo ) is a holy person envelop in a denim cap . She regularly volunteers , spends her free time sour at the local nursing homeanddonut shop , and even wee egg sandwich every aurora for her friend / crush Ty ( Rhenzy Feliz ) who drives her and their friends to school . She ’s also in charge of the schoolhouse ’s diversity show , which is put on every yr for some good campaign , and has an awing vocalizing phonation . In short , Amber is perfect . The only thing that is n’t staring is her home life : she and her down - on - her - chance mother Becky ( Justina Machado , very effective ) get going offAll Together Nowliving in a schooltime bus . This arrange a muffler on Amber ’s dreams , which call for recruit in Carnegie Mellon . Nevertheless , Amber has a sunny exterior that hide her worry and endears her to everyone around her , including barbellate breast feeding home resident Joan ( an always welcome Carol Burnett ) .
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Initially , All Together Nowis all about Amber ’s efforts to keep her head above water and move toward that promise of a better life . Director Brett Haley ( All the Bright Places ) manages to forefend the biggest issue that often plagues film : read alternatively of notification . By avoiding the distinctive YA framing equipment of a voiceover , Haley skillfully conveys life-sustaining things to the consultation through images and mere , not expository dialog , or else of having someone fare right out and explicate it . This works inAll Together Now ’s favor , but it also ca n’t turn back it from feel strangely distant from the difficult part of its plot . mo where Amber is alone on the school bus struggle to elicit much emotion , including one where it shows that she might not be good there .
It is n’t until just about halfway throughAll Together Nowthat examples of truly impactful emotion come through , and to explicate what they are would be offer up spoilers . Still , how a viewer will feel about what happens to Amber on her journeying to a better lifespan will calculate on how invested they are in her as a character . Cravahlo is doubtlessly a vivid vernal gift , and one who merit more opportunities as a former Disney heroine . She weaves between Amber ’s optimism and gradual disillusion with informality ; audiences will certainly root for her , especially becauseAll Together Nowreally likes punctuate how kindhearted she is . But that right there is also an issue withinAll Together Now : Amber has no major flaws , aside from some wait obstinacy . But even that , in the end , is bear out of her heart of gold .
All state , that might not be a huge issue . With a story likeAll Together Now ’s , it ’s authoritative that the hearing supports the champion . In that sense , the film deliver the goods . Where it struggles , however , is truly conveying how desperate and shivery Amber and Becky ’s berth is . Yes , there are real outcome for the both of them , but away from one sobering secret plan point , there ’s no substantial fear for Amber and Becky ’s well - being . That leavesAll Together Nowfeeling strangely sanitize , despite touching upon thing like homelessness , inebriation , and abusive relationships .
Overall , though , this is Cravahlo ’s show , and she take a leak the most of it . The supporting cast is game to , well , support , though one wish there were more glimpses of comedic Titan like Burnett and Fred Armisen ( as Amber ’s drama instructor ) . Because yes , despite the impenetrable subject subject , All Together Nowis , at its mettle , an uplift film about an impressive young young lady trying to beat the odds . There ’s probably little surprisal about where Amber ’s narration ends up , but the journeying is worthwhile , if a little flawed .
More : All Together Now Movie Trailer
All Together Nowis now streaming on Netflix . It is 88 minutes long .
Carol Burnett and Auli’i Cravalho in All Together Now
All Together Now is a drama film directed by Brett Haley . It star Auli’i Cravalho as Amber Appleton , a gifted mellow school student who face significant personal challenge while sustain an optimistic lookout . balance her ambitions with the realities of homelessness , Amber incur solace in her friendship and her passion for music .
