CRAZY RICH ASIANS (2018) Review
Directed by Jon M Chu
Family, tradition, love- these are the elements we, Asians are mostly known for. And director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of the bestselling novel by Kevin Kwan is definitely a surprising delight in a sea of romantic comedy movies.
Crazy Rich Asians tells the story of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) who travels to Singapore to attend Nick’s best friend’s wedding. Little did Rachel knows, Nick’s family is one of the richest families not just in Singapore but in Asia. The relationship of the two will be tested by how crazy some of the members of the family of Nick is and some of his friends as well.
Romantic comedy movies in Hollywood are somewhat not trying to achieve anything but generic and fleeting warmth and relatable lines. So when I saw Crazy Rich Asians, which I had no expectations from, I was surprised by how rich the story is. It might present something different from the usual backdrop we see in Hollywood romcoms but make no mistake, Crazy Rich Asians still follow the formula. But what makes it different is that its treatment is more sincere and more personal rather than going big contrary to how it looks.
Meeting the parent/s for the first time, that’s one of the worst feelings one could experience. But meeting the family the Asian way, you don’t get to meet only the parents and siblings, you also get to meet the extended and nosy family. Imagine how a riot that would be.
But what makes Crazy Rich Asians special is that it keeps its perspective small, intimate, just how Rachel would see and feel being thrown into a circus of a family. It’s a delightful triumph for a Hollywood to produce something like this, all-Asian-led movie presenting a story that is so Asian but still relevant to the whole world.
It’s fun, heartwarming and pleasantly entertaining. You’ll smile all throughout the film and burst some “awws” and “oohs” here and there. Crazy Rich Asians really is crazy for its fabulous representation of how important family and tradition is to the Asians and presenting the rich culture in a palatable way. It’s a romantic comedy that follows the formula but still manages to offer something special to the audience.
4 OUT OF 5 STARS
“Crazy Rich Asians” is now showing in cinemas nationwide from Warner Bros. Pictures. Rated PG by the MTRCB.