‘Crazy Rich Asians’ review: Extravagant, hilarious, and poignant

Color
Force/IMDB

• “Crazy Rich Asians” is an extravagant, hilarious, and
  poignant examination of Asian American and Asian
  cultures. 
• It is a new kind of rom-com for many reasons.
• The cast is wonderful, and shows that Constance Wu and
  Henry Golding can carry a movie with their charm and
  outstanding talent in both comedy and drama.
• Awkwafina and Michelle Yeoh are other
  highlights. 

It’s a shame that it took decades
of filmmaking to get a delightful yet poignant movie like “Crazy
Rich Asians” made. It’s an incredible, moving, and hilarious film
that is just as rich in details and clever social satire as Kevin
Kwan’s 2013 best-selling novel of the same name.

Director Jon M. Wu says
that “Crazy Rich Asians” is “not just a movie, it’s a movement.”
It’s also an experience — of lavish food,
culture, interiors, fashion, and Singapore itself. You might look
up flights to Singapore as you walk out of the movie, like I
did.

The film is hilarious,
emotional, and educational as it examines the differences between
Rachel Chu (played by Wu, a natural lead), an Asian American
woman who grew up with a Chinese single mom, and her boyfriend,
Nick Young, who comes from and incredibly wealthy and traditional
Singaporean family. The problem? Nick never bothered to tell
Rachel about his family.

Henry Golding is excellent
as Nick Young.
Warner
Bros.

Though screenwriters Peter
Chiarelli and Adele Lim take some narrative departures to
make the story tighter, the movie follows the book’s story quite
religiously. After some convincing, Rachel accompanies Nick to
Singapore for his best friend’s wedding which, unbeknownst to
her, is basically a Singaporean royal wedding.

Rachel visits her best friend
from college Goh Peik Lin, played by a scene-stealing Awkwafina,
and then she meets Nick’s family. Once that happens, there’s
tension between Rachel and Nick’s mother Eleanor
Sung-Young (played by Yeoh). Rachel quickly realizes that
friends and family look down on her for being an
Asian American and assume that she’s just after Nick’s
money. 

Awkwafina steals every
scene she’s in.
Netflix

The beloved characters from the
book are brought to life by its perfect cast: from Constance Wu
to Michelle Yeoh to its all-Asian supporting
characters and extras. Everyone involved in this film had the
time of their lives filming it, and that joy shows in every
frame.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is not only
significant as the first major theatrical release starring Asian
Americans in 25 years, since 1993’s “Joy Luck Club,” but for its
vast and entirely Asian cast.

The sets, costumes and locations are
stunning.
Netflix

What’s also refreshing is its
story. Films, especially romantic comedies, often tell the same
story: a workaholic 26-year-old white blonde woman, who is played
by an actress in her 30s, can’t find love because she’s too
obsessed with her job. Then, in comes a white man played by an
actor in his 40s to make her reconsider her personality.

“Crazy Rich Asians” ignores many
tropes set for rom-coms. At the beginning of the movie, the main
characters have already been dating for over a year. And their
relationship’s obstacles — family and
money — are more real than most romantic
comedies.

Jimmy
O. Yang from “Silicon Valley” is also in the
movie.
Universal

If Hollywood listens, “Crazy Rich
Asians” absolutely has the potential to bolster a change for
Asian actors, filmmakers, and stories. It’s a necessary push for
inclusivity in the film industry. Like February’s “Black
Panther,” it makes a lot of people who’ve largely been ignored
feel seen. It also proves these specific stories work for
everyone, even if they don’t look the same as the people on
screen.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is a blast,
and within minutes it will immerse you into its extraordinary
extravagance and extraordinary talent.

The movie comes to theaters
August 15.