Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) an NYU Economics Professor specializing in game theory has been dating her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) for about a year. He plays basketball at a dodgy YMCA gym, borrows her Netflix password and never orders his own dessert but rather shares her's. One day over dessert Nick invites her back home to Singapore to a wedding where he is the best man. Nick never talked about his family always changing the subject when it came up meaning that an invite to meet the Youngs is a big step. Rachel begins to realize how much things are about to change when they get on the plane and are ushered to a first -class suite. All Nick will say is that their family is comfortable and that they do business with the airline so this is a perk.
Crazy Rich Asians hits all of the Romantic Comedy tropes. The most obvious being Cinderella with the girl from the wrong side of the tracks falling for the golden boy heir apparent in a neutral setting. The Old money family with a series of Matriarchs that are exceedingly hard to please. Glamour, glitz, and means that are beyond just about anyone's wildest imagination. Plus a bevy of Cousins, Aunts, and Uncles educated at the best schools in the world. Not to mention the old flame lurking around that the family would see as a better fit.
Director Jon M. Chu and writer Peter Chiarelli's adaptation of Kevin Kwan's first of a three novel set is a significant project for all Asian Americans in the Hollywood film industry. There have been recent incidents where Asian roles have been whitewashed, Ghost In the Machine, Annihilation and perhaps the worst of all example in Aloha. Other roles are also hard to come by so the success of this film means more opportunities for actors, writers, and directors alike.
Constance Wu's Rachel takes many twists and turns in the film. Her intellect shines right of the bat in the classroom. She's put on the defensive in meeting all of the cousins, Aunties and Singapore elite at Nick's Grandma's party. Then recovers her footing as the local girls try to shut her out. Michelle Yeoh is a counterbalance to Rachel as Eleanor Young, She was once in the same position when dealing with Nick's grandmother Ah Ma. But she see's Rachel at a lower level a foreigner with American ambitions that are not family first or our kind of people. Look for Awkawfina at her scene-stealing best fresh off her role in Ocean's 8 as Rachel's roommate from college Peik Lin Goh who has returned back home to Singapore. Henry Golding handles the responsibly well as the rarely seen role in American film of an Asian male being the most desirable man in a film. It's light, funny, sparkling, outrageous, easy to follow opener to a likely trilogy that just may be the saviour of the Rom-Com genre that I can recommend.
*** Out of 4.
Crazy Rich Asians | Jon M. Chu | USA | 2018 | 120 Minutes.
NYU, Professor, Economics, Wedding, Best Man Singapore, First Class, Tiger Mom, Bachelor Party, Ex-Girlfriend, Cheating, Wedding, Proposal, Mahjong.
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