Everybody's Fine (2016) User Reviews

I've seen this story about the adult family before, and I really like this version.

[subxerogravity · 5/10 · 15 May 2016]

This Chinese movie marks the third time this story was done. Robert DiNiro did a movie a few years back with the same title, that movie was based on an Italian movie with the same premise.

A retired man who just lost his wife is expecting his adult children to come visit him, but they all blow him off, so he packs his bags and visits them instead. In his journey he discovers that his kids are keeping secrets from him and putting up a front to hide their unhappiness over what seems just fine on the surface.

The biggest difference between the American one and this one is where the movie takes place, although It's slightly more dramatic and a little more hopeful than the American version about the importance of family.

If you did see the American version and liked that than watch this one cause it's pretty much the same.

Yet another fantasy world in China

[walkaren · 5/10 · 30 March 2024]

China is getting as ridiculous as the US with its unrealistic situations. How else can you explain how some average guy in Beijing has 4 children who were obviously born during China's restrictive one-child policy? Even in rural areas, couples were lucky to even have 2 children but no one had 4. Even popular film director Zhang Yimou was fined by China for more than $1 million USD for violating the country's one-child policy. Yet this average joe was able to somehow have 4 kids??

Unrealistic situation #2 - how does this 1 guy live in such a huge place? He's more likely to live in a cramped apartment, not a house with courtyard, especially in Beijing. Housing spaces are so tight in Beijing that people have resorted to living underground in unused bunkers.

I don't get the low rating

[gulihere · 9/10 · 8 May 2019]

I understand this film may not be for everyone mainly due to the fact it plays to its very specific Chinese audience. I also know that this film is a retelling of an American films retelling of an Italian classic, all by the same name, however I do prefer this one mainly due to the specific character stories being, in my opinion, much more moving. Definitely worth a watch, but especially if you are learning Chinese or interested in China.