Director: Jon M Chu
Writer: Peter Chiarelli, Adele Lim (Screenplay) Kevin Kwan (Novel)
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Harry Shum Jr
Plot: This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.
Tagline – The only thing crazier than love is family
Runtime: 2 Hours
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Delightful
Story: Crazy Rich Asians starts as economics professor Rachel Chu (Wu) gets invited to meet her boyfriends Nick (Golding) family back in Singapore for a family wedding. Rachel meeting up with an old college friend Peik Lin (Awkwafina) she learns that Nick is from the richest of the rich family in Asia.
Rachel must meet countless member of the family with most looking down on her, while Nick must continue to be the humble man that Rachel fell in love with.
Thoughts on Crazy Rich Asians
Characters – Rachel Chu has worked her whole life to become an economics professor, daughter of a single mother, she has had to fight for everything she has. She is dating Nick whom is from a rich family one she didn’t know about, she must meet the family and learn where her place might be in the family if her relationship became more serious. Nick Young is the man Rachel has fallen in love with, he wants her to meet his family, one which he is expected to follow in the footsteps of his family, a life that he hasn’t told Rachel about. He faces a big decision in his life, to be with Rachel or to take over the family business. Eleanor Young is the mother of Nick, she has been helping in the business her whole life, she has also been wanting to handpick a wife for her son, she doesn’t approve of Rachel for the most part because of how she was treated coming into the family. Astrid is the one friend that Rachel finds in the rich society group, they have been friends as she is the only member of the family has met with Nick, she is also going through her own tough times with Rachel being the only one she can talk to about things.
Performances – Constance Wu is wonderful in the leading role, she shows us the emotional impact her characters situation gets put through, while remaining strong a balancing act to keep up through the film. Henry Golding is wonderful on his film debut as the man trying to prove himself to his family. Michelle Yeoh is great as the disapproving mother while the supporting cast are all strong throughout the film, with Awkwafina getting the most laughs.
Story – The story follows one lady that comes from poor background that has met the love of her life who just so happens to be from one of the richest family in the world, she must meet her family who disapprove of their relationship. This is one of the movies that goes for the meet the parents angle, it has a different culture for both sides to get through, the American Chinese meeting with the Chinese only culture, which shows us just what we needed to see for something different, I have experienced this before seeing two cultures you think would be smoothly together, there is differences. This is the first part of a trilogy and luckily this doesn’t end with a cliff hanger which will make us want to come back for more.
Comedy/Romance – The comedy is balance very well not to be over the top just to have a moment of fun here or there, Awkwafina brings most of the comedy which in a supporting role only. The romance in the film shows us just how much love can complicate the rich hierarchy in certain positions.
Settings – The film starts in just New York before showing us the beauty of Singapore as we see just how rich live in this country.
Scene of the Movie – Mah-jong
That Moment That Annoyed Me – It does fall into the generic meet the family film.
Final Thoughts – This is a delightful rom com that gets the feels, the laughs and the heart behind everything correct.
Overall: This is one of the most enjoyable movies of the year.
Rating
