Everyone Says I Love You is a charming, unconventional, and whimsical film that weaves together a series of interconnected love stories in a romanticized version of New York, Venice, and Paris. With a cast of A-list stars who all perform their own singing, the film is a lighthearted and often surprising journey through the unpredictable nature of love and relationships.
The film’s plot is less a single narrative and more a tapestry of interconnected tales. It centers on a large, wealthy, and eccentric family, with a particular focus on Holden Spence (Edward Norton) and Skylar Dandridge (Drew Barrymore). Holden is desperately in love with Skylar, but she has a fling with ex-convict Charles Ferry (Tim Roth).
The film’s narrator is D.J. Berlin (Natasha Lyonne), daughter of Joe Berlin (Woody Allen), a writer in Paris who is still pining for his ex-wife, Steffi (Goldie Hawn), and attempts to woo the beautiful married woman Von Sidell (Julia Roberts).
Julia Roberts in Everyone Says I Love You (Photo/Miramax)
The story also follows the other members of the family, including Steffi’s children.
D.J. and her friend Laura (Natalie Portman) are caught in their own romantic entanglements.
Their parents, Bob (Alan Alda) and Steffi, provide a more stable, albeit sometimes chaotic, foundation for the family.
Gaby Hoffman, Lukas Haas, Billy Crudup, David Ogden Stiers and Robert Knepper round out the cast.
The various plots unfold through a series of musical numbers, with the characters bursting into song at unexpected moments, creating a dreamlike and magical atmosphere.
Reception for Everyone Says I Love You
Everyone Says I Love You grossed $131,678 on its opening weekend, in limited release on three screens with a per screen average of $43,892.
The film would gross $9.8 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Everyone Says I Love You is known for its unique and playful take on the musical genre.
Instead of using professional singers, the film’s stars, many of whom were not known for their singing, performed their own vocals, which gives the movie a raw, charming, and often endearingly off-key quality. This decision perfectly complements the film’s themes of imperfect love and the joyous chaos of human connection.
The film is remembered for its incredible ensemble cast, its quirky humor, and its lush, romantic visuals of New York, Paris, and Venice. It stands as a unique and delightful entry in Allen’s filmography, a celebration of love in all its messy, complicated, and wonderful forms.
