CRAZY RICH ASIANS (2018) - Makes me feel crazy poor

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Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy-drama directed by Jon Chu and starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina, and Gemma Chan. Based on Kevin Kwan's novel of the same name, the film centers on Rachel Chu, an Asian-American professor who travels to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family only to discover that they are (say it with me now) crazy rich Asians. The film is the first by a major Hollywood studio to feature an entirely Asian cast in a modern setting in 25 years.


Final Verdict

Crazy Rich Asians is a rom-com through and through, and comes with all you'd expect in a rom-com. However, the Asian part of the movie isn't tacked on, as it's clearly weaved throughout the narrative which focuses highly on the ideas of family, lineage, and culture. All parts of the movie were well-acted (especially the hilarious Awkwafina) and the movie features a good number of Asian celebrity cameos. Perhaps most impressive was the film's treatment of the "villain", Nick's mother (played with absolute grace by Michelle Yeoh), who has a surprisingly more nuanced motive other than the typical disapproving mother figure of the rich boy.  It's a well made rom-com whose Asian-ness is essential to its story, and hopefully will pave the way for much more Asian representation in Hollywood in years to come.

Score: B

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