ALL TOGETHER NOW
US, 2020, 92 minutes, Colour.
Auli'i Cravalho, Rhenzy Feliz, Carol Burnett, Justina Machado, Judy Rreyes, Anthony Jacques, Gerald Isaac Waters, Taylor Richardson, Fred Arneson, C.S.Lee.
Directed by Brett Haley.
Is there was to be an audience classification for All Together Now, it would be: recommended for older teen and younger teen audiences. It is also has strong appeal for female audiences.
Amber Appleton is an enterprising young teen. She is played with vivacious energy by Auli’i Cravalho who supplied the voice and the singing for Disney’s Moana. She lives in Portland, Oregon, goes to school, but is highly energetic and does a number of jobs, including at a diner and work at a home for the elderly. Her father is dead and her mother has taken up with a violent boyfriend. She and her mother, who is a local bus driver, spend many a night camped in the bus depot, in the buses.
Amber also has a number of friends, a motley array who drive to school together. She also has another friend and admirer, Ty, from a wealthy family.
So, in the first part of the film, we are asked to identify with Amber and all her energy, her friends, her enterprise in arranging the school annual review (to raise money for school cause – this time to buy trombone for the school band). Older audiences will enjoy one of the elderly characters in the home. She is played by Carol Burnett, in her mid 80s at the time of filming. She is acerbic as ever, a crusty old lady, continually sparring with Amber.
It is in the middle of the film, that it becomes more dramatic, with the death of Amber’s mother and boyfriend in a car accident. Amber is bereft, the audience seeing, as do her friends, that while she is generous to a fault, she has and unable to accept help from others. She had been invited to do an audition in Pittsburgh, the plane ticket had bought, but she cancels and withdraws. This is heightened by her beloved dog becoming sick and the price at the vets for surgery is prohibitive. She takes on even more jobs.
There is a moral to this story, of course, that we should be able to accept kindness from others no matter how generous we are in helping those in need.
The friends band together, Ty persuades her to come to the school review, everyone performing, including a group of older Korean- American ladies and their priest chaplain whom Amber had been helping with language studies as well as singing. And, the appeal for the review is to raise money for her dog’s surgery. And, as Amber recovers a happy outlook on life, there is an extraordinary donation. Audiences won’t be the least bit surprised when they find out who the donor is – and why.
A happy ending. A hopeful ending.
1. A film for an older teen and younger teen audience? Especially for a female audience?
2. The focus on Amber Appleton? Her story? Her generosity? Her problems and challenge? The screen presence of Auli’I Cravalho? Cheery? Her singing?
3. The Portland Oregon setting? The city, the streets, school, home for the elderly, the city bus depot, the mansion in the countryside, the variety of workplaces? The musical score, songs?
4. Amber, her age, her singing talent, the death of her father, her relationship with her mother, her mother drinking, the mother’s relationship with Oliver and his brutality? Amber
and her mother spending nights in the buses? Her mother eventually fired? Amber at work, especially in the home for the elderly, her encounters with Joan?
5. Amber, the Korean ladies, the priest chaplain, teaching them, helping them to sing? The cheery support of the priest? The ladies later dressing up, performing at the show, and
the priest singing along as well?
6. Amber, her spirit of generosity, giving of her time? Ricky and his mother, Ricky and his humour and puns? Chad, in the wheelchair? Jordan, singing, the group as friends? In the car together? At school, in the common room, the friendship and support of Mr Franks?
7. Amber, the tradition of putting on the show? Organising everybody? The performances?
8. Amber, her love for her dog, illness, going to the vet, the expenses for the surgery? Not having the money?
9. Amber, the invitation to audition in Pittsburgh, buying the ticket? Amber and the clash with her mother, staying with Donna and Ricky? Donna and her support, especially as regards Pittsburgh and the ticket?
10. The news of the death of Amber’s mother and Oliver? The impact on Amber? Withdrawing, concern about her dog, giving up the audition?
11. Ty, a good friend to Amber, taking her to the country house to give her a break? His attraction towards her? Her wanting him to be in the show, his reticence?
12. Amber, devoting herself to various jobs, cleaning, in the diner (and the manager friendly with her), in the home?
13. Audiences enjoying seeing Carol Burnett as Joan, Carol Burnett in her mid 80s? Continually acerbic? Her quips, criticisms of Amber and her behaviour?
14. The group organising the show, Ty tracking down Amber, getting her to come to the performance? The range of acts, the Korean ladies and the priest, Ricky and his humour, the musicals, Ty even performing as well as hosting?
15. The tradition of raising money for school issues, the trombone for the band? The appeal at the show, the sign with the donations? The appeal? Amber being transformed, enjoying the show? Ty and his trying to make her realise that while she gave to everyone, she needed to learn how to receive?
16. The sudden increase in the donations? Audiences suspecting Joan? Joan talking with Amber, explaining why she gave the money?
17. Amber going to Pittsburgh for the audition – and the possibilities for her future?
