A strong family dynamic can make or break any movie, especially one where that angle is the primary focus. Initially set in 1989, we follow the Smart family through the whirlwind ups and downs of their regional theatre existence. A sharply written cast of characters form a tight group whose contagious chemistry add a layer of believability to their dynamic. Each is fully-formed and deeply lovable, especially the father. If anything, we could have used even more time with them as a unit before tragedy strikes. There’s a sharp divide between the halves to the story that adds deeply to its emotional resonance. Featuring a supernova of talent including Emmy-Winner Bryan Cranston, Oscar-Winners Allison Janney and Chris Cooper, Jack Champion, and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, Everything’s Going to be Great belts its way to dramedy gold.
Meet the Smarts: enthusiastic regional theatre producer father, Buddy (Cranston, Breaking Bad, Malcolm in the Middle); sassy religious mother, Macy (Janney, I, Tonya, Drop Dead Gorgeous); hunky twink football player son, Derek (Champion, Scream VI, Avatar: The Way of Water); and flamboyant theatre-obsessed troublemaker and youngest of the clan, Les (Ainsworth, 2022’s Pinocchio, The Haunting of Bly Manor). The four are a family in every sense of the word, performing and putting on shows at their local theatre, playfully poking fun at one another, giving hopelessly misguided yet brutally honest advice, and loudly crooning out Broadway showtunes on long car drives together. The setup for this relationship is so good that it could easily be developed into a concept for a television series. Director John S. Baird (Filth, Tetris) crafts potentially his most accessible title yet.
Part of what makes the dynamic so endearing to see unfold is that each character is at a different part of their life’s journey. Derek just wants to lose his virginity and play football. Les longs to follow his theatre dreams to be cast as a lead, then give fame a go for five years in New York City. Macy pines for a reignited sexual spark in the bedroom with her husband. Buddy pushes hard to make grand plans for the whole family and their theatre prospects. Dreaming big means taking big swings. As the biggest dreamer of the bunch, Buddy nabs them a special gig that could pull them out of their local trappings: a potential five-year contract running theatres in New Jersey and Milwaukee. At a certain point, they end up having to stay with Walter (Chris Cooper, American Beauty, Adaptation), Macy’s estranged brother, when the dreaming well dries up.
Whatever curveballs life throws our way, we can find comfort in familial bonds. In the case of the Smarts, they turn to outward sources as a crutch rather than folding inwards at the first mention of a sad subject. Les has imaginary conversations with long-dead historical figures, realized onscreen as physical manifestations. Of the Smarts, Les remains the most certain of what he wants to do with his life. Even at just fourteen years old, Les dresses fashionably and obsesses over the auditions his parents force him to take to participate in their little shows. Meanwhile, Derek flexes and does push ups in his underwear, picking up girls to hook up with as the family moves from place to place. The freewheeling nature of their living quarters makes an easy argument for that aforementioned television show format, where it would have an actual opportunity to further develop.
Though this was not a coming out story, Les’s arc seems particularly notable in that he feels expressly like a queer character. The dangling thread of his sexuality allows for Les’s immaculate wardrobe and his quirky references to pop culture that are so specific almost no one would know them. Janney shines as a flawed mother just trying to do her best, but altogether loving her children. Champion shows great depth as Derek, who starts out as a more one-dimensional macho older brother but opens up more once he finds his tribe in high school. Cooper has a few vital moments with Janney, and another with Ainsworth. The true MVP of the film though has to be Cranston. Each time he appears, Cranston’s Buddy makes an impact. Buddy’s positive outlook on life and unfiltered honesty when it comes to giving his sons advice simply brightens the mood. A creative flair and love for showtunes instantly sealed the deal for my love—Everything’s Going to be Great left me roaring with laughter, then teary-eyed. If anything, it proves a thesis about never giving up on your dreams, no matter what form they may take.
Everything’s Going to Be Great premiered at 2025’s Tribeca International Film Festival.
