Adolescence can be really, really difficult. In fact, plenty of teens only manage to get through it by looking forward to the escape that comes after high school, particularly moving out of their family home. Amandla Stenberg doesn’t have that option in Stella Meghie’s “Everything, Everything.” She’ll be stuck in the same place forever.
A trailer for the upcoming film — adapted from Nicola Yoon’s YA novel of the same name — was released and introduces us to Maddy Whittier (Stenberg), an 18-year-old who has never been outside and dreams of seeing the ocean. Since she is allergic to everything, Maddy can’t leave the house without becoming severely ill. When Maddy meets new neighbor Olly (Nick Robinson, “Melissa & Joey”), she decides she needs more from life, sickness or no sickness. “This isn’t living,” Maddy says. “I need to experience everything. Everything.”
The burgeoning romance between Maddy and Olly is the main focus of the film, but the trailer hints at a subplot between Maddy and her overprotective mother (Anika Noni Rose, “Roots”). Her mom is a doctor and has regulated literally every part of Maddy’s life, but Maddy begins to suspect her mother hasn’t been entirely honest. So she decides to venture outside for the first time to find out if she’s really sick.
Meghie previously helmed “Jean of the Joneses,” a movie about a family of women dealing with an unexpected death.
Stenberg’s breakout role was Rue in “The Hunger Games.” She’ll next appear in “As You Are” and “Where Hands Touch,” a romantic WWII drama from Amma Asante (“Belle,” “A United Kingdom”). Stenberg is also set to star in “The Hate U Give,” based on Angela Thomas’ Black Lives Matter-inspired YA novel, and will topline “Darkest Minds,” Jennifer Yuh Nelson’s (“Kung Fu Panda 2”) live-action debut.
“Everything, Everything” hits theaters May 19.