Crazy Rich Asians
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeouh, Awkwafina
Directed by: Jon Chu
Rated: PG-13
Rejoice! THE ROM COM HAS RETURNED IN ALL OF ITS GLORY! Glitzy parties? Check. Airport scenes? Check. Couples you want to root for? Check. Hilarious best friends? Check. Crazy Rich Asians has restored my hope that the romantic comedy genre is still alive and thriving!
When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) agrees to accompany her boyfriend, Nick (Henry Golding) to a wedding in Singapore, she also agrees to meet his family. What she doesn't know is that he is a member of one of the richest families in Asia. Now Rachel finds herself facing intense scrutiny from Nick's family and the public. Can she handle it all? We'll have to wait and see. One thing's for certain though, this family knows how to throw a party.
Director Jon Chu adapted Crazy Rich Asians to the big screen from the novel of the same name. Although I haven't read the novel, I can say he did an excellent job with the film. This is a dazzling spectacle that kept me laughing and entertained from beginning to end. It feels like a modern fairytale. I appreciate Wu's stylistic choices, especially the staging of massive party sequences that feel Gatsby-esque. The direction is top notch on every level, but I don't think the movie would be as enjoyable without its magnetic cast.
Constance Wu leads the cast as Rachel Chu, an NYU professor who has no idea about her boyfriend's family. This role proves Constance has major acting range! It's a complete 180 from the role that we're used to seeing her in Fresh Off the Boat (which you should be watching if you haven't been!). She can play a strict mom of 3 kids and the lead of a rom-com. In Crazy Rich Asians, she is a self-made woman who loves Nick as the person he is, not the wealth he possesses.
Henry Golding plays Nick. He's a great leading man who has impressive chemistry with Constance Wu. Throughout the film, his character finds himself torn between his family and his girlfriend. Ah yes, the classic rom-com struggle. Although we've seen it many times before, Henry Golding and Constance Wu make it very believable.
Michelle Yeouh is Eleanor Young, Nick's mother. She expects things to be done her way or no way at all. When first meeting Rachel, she puts on an air of kindness. But that is quickly stripped away when she learns how serious her son is about her. There is nothing Rachel can do to make Eleanor like her. However, Yeouh goes on to give a layered performance and we learn there are reasons Eleanor acts the way she does.
Awkwafina is a standout as Peik-Lin, Rachel's college friend who lives in Singapore. Every scene with Peik-Lin is full of hilarious dialogue. Rachel plays it straight to Peik's comedic interludes. Each scene with the two unfolds brilliantly. I saw an interview with Awkwafina where she said a major number of her scenes were improv. That's extremely impressive. I can see a major Hollywood career ahead for Awkwafina.
One last thing, can we talk about the fashion in this movie? These outfits are incredible! Rachel's dinner party dress, everything that cousin Astrid wore, the WEDDING DRESS! Actually just every outfit in the wedding scene. Shoutout to the costume designer Mary Vogt who knows what she's doing! Mary, can you become my stylist? Just let me finish writing this review first, I gotta tell the people to go see this movie.
Crazy Rich Asians may have a few rom com clichès, but it is a blast from start to finish. The cast is impressive, the set design is gorgeous, and the story is engaging. End your summer movie season the right way and go see Crazy Rich Asians.
My Rating: 9/10