A Reel Review: CRAZY RICH ASIANS

Based on the novel of the same name, director Jon M. Chu’s CRAZY RICH ASIANS has so far been the surprise hit of 2018. Special guest writer Jessica Petro, this Blogger’s girlfriend, returns with this review. 

As humans, we are always curious about how our fellow humans live life and how they become the way they are. One’s family always tends to be high on that list of what makes a person who they are (or aren’t.) Movies revolving around family are always ones that peak out interest and Crazy Rich Asians is no different in that department. Wrap a Rom-Com love story and a family that is not only crazy rich but crazy and rich, and you’re bound to get some curious movie-goers. 

Set in the present day, Crazy Rich Asians is about Rachel (Constance Wu) and Nick (Henry Golding) who attend a Chinese Wedding in Singapore. It’s a modern day love story of a Chinese-American girl and a Chinese man and how that small little difference is made VERY clear by his Chinese family. 

Nick, a business man born in Singapore, and Rachel, a Chinese-American economics professor, have been dating in NYC for over a year. He brings up his best friend Colin’s (Chris Pang) wedding shortly taking place in Singapore in which he is the Best Man. In the short time it takes Nick to explain this, word has gotten to his mother that he is bringing his girlfriend (thanks to RadioAsia.) We first see how quickly news travels in this digital age of ours and only start to see juuuuust how rich and eligible of a bachelor Nick is in Singapore. Rachel is completely in the dark about Nick’s extravagant life in Singapore. 

Rachel is warned by her mother before leaving just how different she is from her boyfriend’s Chinese family. Worlds collide upon the meeting. The younger members of Nick’s family understand that she is different and find it fascinating, while his mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) and Ah Ma (Lisa Lu) make it clear that Rachel will never be one of them. While Rachel feels isolated in an unfamiliar country, her former college roommate, Peik Lin (Awkwafina) and her family lives in Singapore and assists her in managing Nick’s rich and crazy family. Peik Lin’s mother (Chieng Mun Koh), father (Ken Jeong) and the rest of her family are completely accepting and embracing of western culture. They are the complete contrast of Nick’s family.

As the story progresses and we see that Nick is quite literally the most eligible bachelor in Singapore, things get serious for Rachel at the bride’s bachelorette weekend, but takes refuge in Astrid. Rachel stays strong and still makes it to “the wedding of the century” for quite possibly one of the most beautiful wedding scenes that has ever been put to film. 

Henry Golding as Nick and Constance Wu as Rachel and cute and quirky together and works very well. Gemma Chan as Astrid is excellent as Nick’s cousin who is like his sister is super sophisticated and soft hearted, while Ronny Chieng and Remy Hii as his other cousins Eddie and Alistair respectively are perfectly executed slime balls. Michelle Yeoh as Nick’s mother is downright terrifying. The one who absolutely steals the movie is Awkwafina as Peik Lin, Rachel’s former roommate and good friend. Every line from her is perfectly delivered and absolutely knee-slapping hilarious. 

Issues come to a head during Colin’s wedding reception which strays from the storyline a la MEET THE PARENTS (there was no lie detector test but there are private investigators involved.)

Crazy Rich Asians has everything you could want in a Rom-Com: travel, culture food and fashion (oh those make over scenes that we all love!) There are some turns that you do not see coming that only add to its charm and appeal.  This movie is a terrific insight into the Asian culture that desperately needs representation in today’s world, where we should be accepting of all cultures. 

BOTTOM LINE: See it