Everything in order (2017)

Directed by: Danny Stolker | 89 minutes | romance, comedy | Actors: Maryam Hassouni, Esmée van Kampen, Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing, Sarah Chronis, Oscar Aerts, Mark van Eeuwen, Tarikh Janssen, Jord Knotter, David Lucieer, Leo Alkemade, Don Alphonso, Nick Vorsselman

Danny Stolker is originally a rapper under the name Kas, but in addition to juggling with words, this Rotterdammer is also good with images. His video clips have won prizes and he has also made two documentaries: ‘Fatcap Express’ (2008) about two graffiti artists and ‘Who the F*ck is Unorthadox’ (2011), about Stolker’s good friend and colleague, rapper Unorthadox. . Stolker apparently enjoys shooting films, because he is now also venturing into a feature film. ‘Everything for each other’ (2017) is a Dutch romantic comedy in which four friends find themselves at a crossroads in their lives. If they ever want to realize their dreams, they have to go for it now. ‘Everything for each other’ has a nice cast and makes Rotterdam shine as a film location. Unfortunately, in all its predictability, superficiality and improbability, the screenplay leaves a lot to be desired.

Four friends celebrate the thirtieth birthday of one of them, Lina (Esmée van Kampen). Nicole (Sarah Chronis) and Vanessa (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing) have already reached that milestone, and in two months Sena (Maryam Hassouni) will too. Out of sheer nostalgia, the four watch a video of Lina’s eighteenth birthday, in which they all talk about what they hope to achieve before their thirtieth birthday. They are shocked to discover that for most of them very little has come of it. Lina dreams about a family, but can’t seem to find a man. Vanessa doesn’t necessarily need a steady relationship, but she does wrap every man around her finger. She dreams of a career as a singer, but doesn’t know where to start. Sena is ambitious and about to get promoted; she dreams of a top job as CEO at a multinational. Finally, Nicole has a husband and a child and knows nothing to wish for. So she goes for a pool in the garden. She keeps to herself that she is not exactly happy in her relationship and her work. The friends decide – in a slightly inebriated state – to help each other achieve their goals, before the last of the four reaches thirty. Because you can’t move mountains in two months, they decide to take it small: Lina starts dating, Vanessa registers for auditions, Sena forces that promotion and Nicole prepares for that desired swimming pool.

Of course, things don’t go as planned. Lina’s desperate attempts to hook up with a suitable man, prompting her to be prompted by her friends, are mostly amusing. The audition Nicole arranged for Vanessa goes horribly wrong. Sena is harassed by her insufferable colleague Jonathan (Leo Alkemade), who runs off with her idea, and Nicole puts her relationship on the line by hooking up with someone else. The friends learn that the grass isn’t always greener with the neighbors, that sometimes you have to be content with what you have and that happiness is more often close by than you think. Predictably wise lessons, as the film is largely predictable. Because you can see it coming from afar that those who seem to have everything the best for each other end up having the biggest struggle. Only once in a while does the scenario by Dag Neijzen and Liesbeth Strik take an unexpected turn. Unfortunately, the events rarely dig deep; the emphasis is rather on the (un)fun: toilets that no longer flush after a big errand and half-hearted burglary attempts to confiscate a USB stick, that works. While quite interesting themes are touched upon that many (early) thirties run into.

In addition, the characters are very stereotypical: the career tiger, the woman with the ramshackle ovaries, the exhausted young mother and the talented bonkers. With Hassouni, Van Kampen, Chronis and Wong-Loi-Sing, ‘Everything for each other’ has a lot of young female talent on board, but only the latter is able to provide her role with the necessary fresh, natural energy. In the (male) supporting roles we see Mark van Eeuwen, David Lucieer, Oscar Aerts, Tarikh Janssen, Jord Knotter and Leo Alkemade, among others. Aerts and Alkemade are there for the comic relief, the others barely get anything to do. More attention is paid to the city of Rotterdam, which is captured by Stolker with unbridled love. The fact that the director is also at home in the music scene can be heard from the pleasant contemporary soundtrack, in which a lot of space is reserved for hip-hop.

‘Everything for Each Other’ claims to be a true-to-life romantic comedy that follows four friends on their way to adulthood. The themes with which they struggle – relationships, children, career – are recognizable in any way, but the way in which things have been worked out leaves a lot to be desired. The beautiful images of Rotterdam, the fine music and the sparkling Wong-Loi-Sing cannot hide the fact that the scenario rattles on all sides.