Everything’s Going to Be Great: Film Review

Despite the talented cast in Everything’s Going To Be Great, Baird’s latest dramedy lacks any clear narrative direction.

Then there are Buddy and Macy’s two sons, Lester (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth, of The Sandman) and Derrick (Jack Champion, of Freaky Tales). Much like his father, Lester is also obsessed with the stage. Due to the pair’s shared hobby, they have a strong bond. Lester wants to be the next standout in the theater industry and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. His classmates at school find him strange, but he has never been affected by their views of him. Instead, he’s kept his eyes on the prize of making it big one day.

On the other hand, Derrick couldn’t be any more different from his brother. Though he works for his family’s theater company, he has zero interest in the industry and would rather focus on football. Derrick finds the theater scene a bit cringe and is undoubtedly the misfit of the family. 

As one would expect, keeping a local theater running is no easy task, and Buddy and Macy are struggling financially – that is, until they’re given the opportunity to run a successful theater in New Jersey. To make the deal even more appealing, the manager promises that if they turn a good profit during the summer, he will offer them a 5-year contract to run two successful theaters, which would resolve their debt. The only catch is that they will have to move for this job, which almost all members of the family embrace, except for Derrick, who is desperate to stay in their current town. After all, he’s popular at school and hates the thought of leaving his buddies and girlfriend behind. 

At the beginning of Everything’s Going to Be Great, the film makes you believe this will be a dramedy focusing on the family setting up shop in a new town as they attempt to deliver on their promise of generating revenue. As Lester is a wannabe theater kid and Derrick is the odd one out in the family, this could have been a noteworthy coming-of-age story detailing the personality differences between the two siblings. Lester could have found his calling while staying entirely true to himself, while Derrick discovered you don’t need to follow the family hobby to fit in. He could also have learned that you can pave your own path without being forced to do something you find no value in. However, this isn’t the direction the story takes us in.

Self-discovery is the underlying theme in Everything’s Going to Be Great, and many of the characters experience it in one form or another. However, it’s explored in a way that feels half-baked and like an afterthought. About forty-five minutes into the movie, an unexpected tragedy occurs, which completely alters the story’s trajectory. From there, the narrative meanders as we witness several conflicts between multiple characters. We are also introduced to new ones without any clear focus in sight. 

Numerous themes are presented in Everything’s Going to Be Great, such as the exploration of one’s sexuality, opposing views on religion, the resentment that occurs when you feel like you have no real purpose and are living out someone else’s dream, and infidelity. Yet, it tries to tackle all of them without saying much at all. In fact, with none of the themes presented fully explored, you can’t help but wonder what the film’s key takeaway is supposed to be once the credits roll.

Despite Everything’s Going To Be Great’s talented cast, the names involved in this project aren’t enough to elevate the film’s uninspiring, meandering plot. This is a great shame, given its promising setup and the intriguing themes introduced that receive little development. Unfortunately, the viewing experience differs from the title as everything is far from great

Everything’s Going to Be Great was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 9-15, 2025 and will be released in select US theaters on June 20, 2025.