All I Wish — Life’s Little Rollercoasters

So, I just watched “All I Wish,” and if you’ve ever had that nagging feeling that you’re just drifting through life, then Sandra Bullock’s character in this film will resonate, like the perfect cheese platter at a torsdagsmys (Thursday cozy night). Sharon Stone plays the lead, and honestly, seeing her in a romantic comedy was like finding an old ABBA vinyl at a loppis (flea market)—unexpected, but kinda delightful.

Directed by Susan Walter—who by the way is like this unknown chef suddenly making the best köttbullar (meatballs) you’ve ever tasted—the movie takes us through bits and pieces of a woman’s life each year on her birthday. It’s like a smörgåsbord of emotions. Sometimes touching, sometimes a bit too predictable. But hey, haven’t we all had those routine family dinners where you know exactly what sillen (herrings) are gonna taste like? Comforting, yet nothing groundbreaking.

It got me reminiscing about my own 25th birthday party. My friends organized a surprise bash—complete with balloons and a Marimekko tablecloth. Only, I accidentally found out about it a day before. Long story. But the anticipation made it oddly more real, kind of like the gradual joy that unfolds in this movie.

Not everything is a hit though. Some scenes drag slower than a Monday morning fika at work, and I kept waiting for that cinematic kladdkaka (sticky chocolate cake) moment—delicious but too little too late.

The soundtrack tries hard to echo the ‘life’s a party’ theme, with its pop tunes that sometimes feel more IKEA background music than the soul-searching anthem you hoped for.

But here’s a thought: isn’t it rather nice that a film can explore, even if a bit wobbly, the joyous chaos of life? So grab a bag of surströmming as a dare, invite your friends over, and enjoy a slice of someone else’s chaos for a change. Cheers, or as we say, skål!

Check the trailer below