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| Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh) left, face to face with her son's girlfriend Rachel Chu (Constance Wu). |
ASIAN AMERICA! You wanted representation? In Crazy Rich Asians, there is representation galore.
Not only did the movie feature that rarest of rarities, an all-Asian cast, in front of the camera, but just as important, Asians were behind the camera too -- from the director, Jon M. Chu and Kevin Kwan, the author of the novel on which the movie is based to scriptwriter Adele Lim, -- to ensure that the Warner Bros. project would not resort to stereotyping or whitewashing.
From the colorful graphics, split screen and jaunty music -- reminiscent of the openings of the I Love Lucy TV series and other TV sitcoms such as the 60's Dick Van Dyke Show and Bewitched -- the audience is instantly put into a joyful mood.
Chu has managed to create a fun romp through the glitz and clamor of fantastic Singapore high society with all the cultural tripwires to make things interesting even though the ending was never in doubt.
The movie is not perfect and it doesn't attempt to be more than what it is -- a romantic comedy -- but at the same time, it is so much more.
Awkwafina is a revelation as Rachel Chu's girlfriend. The Asian American comedic actress dominate every scene she is in with her bubbly energy and comedic timing.
Awkwafina, along with Nico Santos, who tempers his characterization of Nick Young's cousin Oliver T'Sien just short of a stereotype, get their roles expanded beyond the novel, a wise decision by director Chu because they help maintain the comedic side of the equation to balance off the straight-arrow characters of the main leads of Rachel Chu and Nick young, who essentially play straight man and woman to the comedic pair.
All the controversy surrounding the casting of Henry Golding as the male romantic lead should be cast by the wayside. It's hard to imagine anyone else in the role of Nick Young, the bachelor scion of an uber-rich Chinese-Singaporean family. What ever "it" is, Golding has it. The role doesn't demand too much for him in his first movie role, but he makes up for it in exuding a Cary Grant-style charm and charisma onscreen.
REALITY:Constance Wu, free from the Taiwanese American accent she uses in Fresh Off the Boat, is a surprise as she reveals a side of her we haven't expected of her. As Rachel Chu, she is innocent, sexy in a girl-next-door kind of way and ultimately, a toughness that isn't revealed until near the end.
Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor, Nick Young's overbearing mother constantly considering the social strata consequences of Nick's romantic choices, is another perfect casting. Before she accepted the role, Yeoh made it clear she didn't want to resort to a Tiger Mom image for her character and she was able to pull it off. Overbearing, yes. Meddlesome, yes, Icy, definitely. But everything she does as Eleanor is for love and family.
The glamorous role of Nick Young's cousin Astrid Leong Young-- the woman every girl wants to be -- could be a breakout role for British-born Gemma Chan, who's called upon to display a range of emotions way beyond what is called for in her role as a robotic "synth" in the TV series Humans. The combination of her vulnerability and sophistication ala Grace Kelly has been missing from most Hollywood leading ladies for so long, to see it onscreen is refreshing. Look for her to get more attention from Hollywood.
Near the end, director Chu hints there's more storylines for Astrid in the future as she deals with her marital and romantic dilemmas.
The actors in supporting roles reveled in their characters. It was as if all their pent-up talent was allowed to come forth.
The variety of characters spanned a whole spectrum, including the social climber Edison Cheng (Ronny Chieng), best friend Colin Khoo (Chris Pang), over the top Bernard Tai (Jimmy O. Yang), bride-to0be Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno) to philanderer husband Michael Teo (Pierre Ping).
In a way, Chu is sending the movie industry a couple of messages. Not one of the characters was one of the typical stereotypes Asian actors are usually asked to portray and that there are many stories to tell. Hollywood needn't have to settle for the same ol' stories over and over again or reboots of previously made movies.
The music was a clever way to link Asia and the West by employing recognizable tunes like "Money," and "Material Girl" and even when it is sung in Chinese, the audience is totally familiar with the music and English lyrics.
Chu was able to artfully tell the Asian-based story but still provide plenty of access points for western audiences by telling universal stories of a young couple in love, an outsider getting rejected by a loved one's family,
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| The mother of all weddings was was the key event in 'Crazy Rich Asians.' |
Crazy Rich Asians is not a perfect movie. It is totally predictable. but in a good way.
it presents a picture of Asians having fun, kissing each other, fashionable and strugging with western culture's impact on their lifestyle. CRA takes the audience where it wants to go. In that respect, it satisfies the audience hoping for a happy ending after getting shortchanged in so many other movies, where the Asian guy doesn't get the girl, or the familiar plot in which the Asian girl falls for the white leading man.
While it is true that the world portrayed in CRA is something totally unfamiliar to most of us, we need to keep in mind that it is a fantasy, not a documentary. However, by depicting the rarified world of the upper strata of Singapore society, it is does present a new facet of Asian culture that is not usually shown on the big screen. CRA is successful is showing that people from Asia are more complicated and interesting than what has usually been portrayed by Hollywood. They laugh and cry. They have ambition, hopes and dreams, They're witty and funny. They're fashionable, attractive, sexy and desirable.
Chu has managed to blend the right amount of Asian and western values and perspectives -- exotic yet familiar -- in telling a familiar story of love conquers all, no matter what part of the world you're from.
By all means, go see it. Bring your family and friends. It's a pleasure and a relief to see a film devoid of special effects, explosions, killings and super heroes and instead see a movie about human beings, with all their flaws and glory. Above all, Crazy Rich Asians passes the ultimate test: It's entertaining!
Crazy Rich Asians hits U.S. and Canadian theaters this Wednesday, Aug. 15.
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