A Wedding Invite Makes Everyone Awkward In Zany, Laugh-Out-Loud Comedy

It’s very rare these days for a situational comedy to genuinely make me laugh, but The Everything Pot did just that. The film, directed and written by Sherise Dorf, is deeply silly, but it’s also got a good amount of heart and themes that are relatable. While the crux of the characters’ issues don’t emerge until it’s too late to properly flesh them out, The Everything Pot still manages to turn domestic shenanigans into something a bit deeper. Awkwardness knows no bounds here, and the kooky comedy has enough steam to carry it all the way through to a lovely ending.

The Everything Pot Is A Comedy That Actually Brings The Laughs

The film knows how ridiculous it can be, and we’re along for the fabulous ride

There have been multiple occasions where I’ve sat down to watch a comedy in theaters, only to be met with the silence of the audience, or a few uncomfortable chuckles. The Everything Pot, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, sparked authentic laughter from the crowd. It elevated the viewing experience, of course, but it’s primarily thanks to Dorf’s writing and the cast’s comedic timing that the reaction was so positive.

The film — which follows Rachel (Lisa Edelstein) and husband Adam (Erik Griffin) after she too quickly RSVPs to ex-coworker Charlie (James Wolk) and fiancée Clare’s (Delaney Rowe) wedding invite, sparking chaotic and zany exchanges — knows exactly what it’s aiming for and doesn’t deviate from its course. The movie’s comedy is purely situational, and it’s often cringe-inducing thanks to Rachel’s overzealousness. Her behavior and actions had me wanting to facepalm, especially at the start, but they’re also understandable when thinking about her marital situation. Adam is there, but he doesn’t seem to want to do anything beyond the usual.

The age difference between the couples — Rachel and Adam are in their 50s, Charlie and Clare are in their early 30s at the most — also makes for an intriguing dynamic. Rachel and Adam have been married for more than two decades and a part of the reason why Rachel is so excited about the wedding is because she feels like she’s no longer invited to such events anymore. Whereas the spark of Charlie and Clare’s relationship is still bright, Rachel and Adam’s has waned. And yet, they mirror each other in many ways, especially as things escalate between them.

The Everything Pot fans the flames of second-hand embarrassment, but it does it so well. Rather than simply cringing the entire way through, I found myself laughing at the foolishness, just as incredulous as Adam often was at the direction things were going. To be sure, the film makes a bigger deal out of things, perhaps exaggerating for the sake of the story. And while it may occasionally come off as doing too much or going on for too long, Dorf has plenty to say about relationships and aging and the tools to say them.

The Everything Pot Has Incredible Cast Chemistry

The back-and-forth exchanges and banter truly make the film

With only four main characters, and Gina Torres’ funny, drama-loving Gail popping in to see Rachel and Adam from next door, The Everything Pot might have fallen apart in less capable hands. But with Dorf’s confident direction and writing, and an exceptional cast, the film comes together quite nicely. It’s warm and light, funny and sharp. But what truly makes The Everything Pot so memorable is the cast and their engaging chemistry. A comedy is reliant, in part, on actors who are game for anything and, with so much banter between them, their comedic timing is elevated by how well they mesh together onscreen.

I can’t say enough good things about the cast’s chemistry. The actors are delightful together, and they look like they’re having a blast in their roles. Edelstein is a particular standout, but even her character’s wild and boundary-pushing actions wouldn’t be as entertaining without Griffin’s gleeful commentary and flabbergasted expressions. The couples play off of each other incredibly well, and I’m not sure the film would have worked as well as it does without their charm, magnetism, and their ability to uplift every interaction. Things go off the rails very quickly, and the cast is remarkably good at keeping up.

While The Everything Pot does get repetitive for a bit there with its exchanges and suspicions of infidelity, it bounces back sooner rather than later. At a smooth hour and 30-minute runtime, the comedy doesn’t overstay its welcome, digging deeper into its cross-generational interactions and relationships at different stages. With strong themes and a fabulous cast, Dorf has a winning comedy that offers compelling conflict and fishes for laughs in all the right places.

The Everything Pot premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.