All Together Now Review: A Deeply Emotional and a Touching Film!

Narrating a heartwarming storyline around the general notion that “good things will eventually happen, if you keep pushing yourself,” All Together Now is yet another impressive entry in the giant catalog of young-adult, teenage dramas on Netflix. Starring an ever radiant, Auli’i Cravalho in the lead role, Brett Haley, who also directed, one of the best movies of this year in All the Bright Places helms the film based upon the novel, ‘Sorta Like a Rockstar’ written by Matthew Quick.

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The storyline of All Together Now begins with Amber Appleton (Auli’i Cravalho), who works round the clock to save some money to rent an apartment and improve her fortuneless lifestyle of living on the streets. From spending time at her school, working at a retirement home, and a donut shop, the remainder of the movie showcases if, or if not her hard work and perseverance pay off by the very end.

Beginning with the primary aspects that I liked about All Together Now the most, the movie tries to keep things simple with the storyline only showcasing a specific phase in the lead character’s exhausting life, and her overcoming the obstacles she faced along the way. It also supports the three-act structure perfectly and takes a few surprising detours mid-way through the runtime. And even though the climax is predictable for the most part, the screenwriters still managed to keep it impactful and made sure to hit all the right emotions they’re aiming for.

Yet another aspect the screenwriters of All Together Now substantially focused on is the character of Amber Appleton. During the course of the 92-minute narrative, you learn so much about her tenacity, determination, the love she is willing to give to the people around her, and the immense internal and external struggles she’s going through on a day-to-day basis. You connect, empathize and feel for her character when she continuously endures these dramatic phases of blaming herself of miserable situations she had no control over and not accepting any help or sympathy from her close friends through and through.

And with a decent amount of build-up and focus on the main character, I, as a viewer, was able to relate to her journey and only hoped for the best to happen sooner than later. Consequently, when that refreshing moment finally arrives, it materializes beautifully on-screen, bringing in all sorts of emotions from happy tears to gladness as it is impactful due to the terrific character development from the very beginning. Director Brett Haley also understood the significance of surrounding his lead character with a great supporting cast who provide the strength and assistance she required to travel from point A to B.

Moving on to the other noteworthy positives, Auli’i Cravalho is, without a doubt, the star of the entire movie as her lovely screen presence vividly lights up every single scene. Be it her facial expressions, pleasing smile, and her ability to emote helped the narrative so much to connect to the viewer accurately. Also, the subtle background score mainly including a mixture of light keyboard notes helped fit the vibe alongside the scenic shots of the cityside of Portland, Oregon.

Overall, All Together Now is a deep, touching film with a lot to take in as a viewer when it comes to emotions and finer feelings. You will be able to connect strongly with the lead character’s journey, will root for her mega success all the way through, and Auli’i Cravalho makes it so easy as you can’t help but follow the rollercoaster ride she endures through in the film. A must-watch because I’m sure you will take in something from the narrative and realize or appreciate the things you have around you.

Rating – 3.5/5 | Grade – B+

Images via Netflix