Crazy Rich Asians (2018, USA) Theater 4/5
Crazy Rich Asians is the first American made, all Asian cast movie since The Joy Luck Club 25 years ago.
I was actually trying to temper my enthusiasm for this movie (I’ve been watching movies and TV Shows from Southeast Asia for over 40 years, trying not to let that influence me), so I knew just the place to go - imdb. Sure enough, there are enough hateful user reviews to make anyone change their mind.
But I didn’t.
Yes, it’s about the excess of greed amongst the ultra-rich - what? The name of the movie didn’t clue you into that?
Yes, the behavior of some of them is erratic and… crazy. Hello? The title of the movie.
And yes, it had an all Asian cast.
What was everyone expecting?
I was expecting a Joy Luck Club, and instead what I got was a funny rom-com, that still had enough drama to keep me interested.
Rachel (Constance Wu) an economics Professor in New York is marrying Nick (Henry Golding), and they’re headed to Singapore for Nick’s friend’s Wedding. Rachel doesn’t know it but Nick’s family is wealthy. Not just wealthy but, FILTHY wealthy.
His mom, played by Hong Kong Action Icon Michelle Yeoh (now in her late 50’s), isn’t fond of his choice and sternly makes it known. As do all of the women on the bridesmaid getaway, where they put a gutted fish in Rachel’s bed and write in big red letters that she’s a ‘golddigger’.
Luckily, we have Ken Jeong (The Hangover) to add levity (“Eat your nuggets. Don’t you know there are starving children in America!”) and Awkwafina to make us laugh and nearly steal the movie.
Awkwafina plays Rachel’s close friend from her college days, who also just happens to live in Singapore, and her part, as the somewhat unrefined friend is the kind of performance that will immediately open up her career in Hollywood.
It’s fun, it’s funny, it has great drama….
Yes, it’s about the Ultra Rich, and that can be annoying (I’m not a fan of Housewives of the… or Lifestyles of the… either one), but seeing all of these sets and locations in Southeast Asia and the fun everyone has… ah, we can dream, can’t we?
And what sets it apart from your typical rom-com is that the problem that gets in the way of true love isn’t just wealth, it’s also tradition - Chinese tradition - and the dynamic between Grandmother (Lisa Lu - who was also in the Joy Luck Club 25 years ago), the mother (Yeoh), and the newcomer Rachel is a shock to the system at times. And Yeoh really comes across as reserved, snooty, and cutthroat.
There are a few other plotlines running through the movie that probably got a lot more fleshed out in the novel, but luckily here we just get a bit of it, and they concentrate on what the main part of the story is about.
I've ignored the controversies surrounding the movie - I mean, it's JUST a movie. Aren't there more serious things in life to worry about? I'm glad it got made with an Asian cast, and an Asian director, but most importantly, I'm glad they made a really enjoyable movie.
Awkwafina
Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, and Constance Wu
