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‘Crazy Rich Asians’
With a Fun RomCom, a Master Emerges
by Sandra Olmsted
Director Jon M. Chu, who previously directed films in several genres, seems to have found his genre. Like an auteur RomCom master, Chu energizes ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ by delivering a fresh and fun take on the tropes of the genre. The familiar story of boy meets girl, boy loses girl, etc. benefits from a delightfully cast, a strong script based on a best-seller, and immersion into the exotic world of Singapore’s ultra-rich.
The familiar story twists in a more complex direction because Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) has no idea that Nick Young (Henry Golding), the love of her life, is the very wealthy scion of a Singapore dynasty and, consequently, the most desired bachelor in Asia. Had Nick never invited Rachel to a wedding in his native Singapore, they could have happily dated; instead, he wants to marry her and must introduce her to his family.
Fortunately, Rachel’s dear friend and former college roommate, Peik Lin Goh (Awkwafina), informs Rachel of just what she is walking into and helps her prepare and dress for the auspicious occasions ahead. Nick’s cousin, Astrid Young Teo (Gemma Chan), whose “commoner” husband is having an affair because he feels inferior, also helps Rachel navigate the choppy waters of catty, cruel, and jealous women who want to sabotage Nick and Rachel’s relationship. Meanwhile, Astrid’s failing marriage offers a counterpoint to Nick and Rachel’s hope for love and marriage. Rachel also gets assistance from Oliver T’sien (Nico Santos), Nick’s relatively poor cousin, who is an extraordinary wedding planner and stylist. (The fantastic wedding at the end of the film will influence weddings for years to come!)
Although the most important meeting with Nick’s grandmother, Ah Ma (Lisa Lu), the matriarch who can withhold the family’s blessing, goes well, Nick’s mother, Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh), takes an instant dislike to Rachel and tells her why she will never “be enough.” What lengths will family and frenemies go to destroy Nick and Rachel’s love? Who is offering true friendship and help? Will Nick and especially Rachel be able to figure it all out and save their relationship?
Although Kevin Kwan needed footnotes in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ to clue readers in on Singapore’s ultra rich and nouveau riche, Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim’s powerful script, which relies on contextual clues and poor-girl-rich-man genre tropes, provides the audience with everything needed to understand the world that director Chu captures so well. Chu choosing Brian Tyler to score the jazzy, fusion soundtrack helps bridge the cultural gap and increases the film’s “crossover” potential. However, because love is a universal language, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is less a crossover film than just a great, enjoyable film that captures the universality of not only love but of wealth, struggle, and success.
Often films set in exotic locations can feel like travelogues; fortunately, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ provides an immersive Singapore experience. While most won’t getting into these ultra-rich circles while visiting the island, vicariously experiencing Singapore’s food through the food montages in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ will have foodies at least hitting local Chinese restaurants. In fact, a Chinese meal and ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ will make a great date night or girls’ night out.
The acting is top notch, and the casting spot on while the English Boarding School accents make the dialogue easy to understand. Constance Wu is luminous as the accomplished, self-made university professor raised by a widowed immigrant mother. Newcomer Henry Golding is not only handsome, but he naturally evokes not only privilege but kindness and intelligence. Awkwafina is delightfully quirky; Gemma Chan plumbs depths, and Nico Santos’ stunning performance provides a lot of humor. Michelle Yeoh is delicious as a determined, protective mom, and Lisa Lu charms as the beloved grandmother. All the supporting actors turn great performances which also speaks well of Chu’s directing.
While ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ has been hailed because it is the first film in 25 years — since ‘The Joy Luck Club’ (1993) — to have a primarily Asian cast, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is just plain fun. The fun evokes ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’ (2002) or ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral’ (1994), in both enjoyment and in box office potential. Also a feather of Chu’s directing cap, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ could well be the next big RomCom Wedding film that has very long legs. (A film that has legs means it does well in the theaters and makes lots of money.)
‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ referring to very rich, is a Warner Bros. which runs a fast and hilarious 120 minutes. Director Jon M. Chu’s ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ which is rated a family-friendly PG-13 for some suggestive content and language, is in theaters now, and this reviewer is heading back to see the film again ASAP!
