Representation in film is incredibly important to me. If you don’t think so, I have two things to say to you:
1) That’s a little rude and inconsiderate…wait, are you a member of my family?
2) In mainstream Hollywood’s long and often problematic history, minorities rarely get center stage. When we do get that representation, it should be celebrated. Especially when it’s this good.
Crazy Rich Asians boasts an all Asian cast in a Hollywood production, a first in twenty five years (The last was The Joy Luck Club in 1993). From Constance Wu to Henry Golding to Michelle Yeoh, the talented cast carries a classic “boy meets girl, boy’s mom hates girl” romantic comedy. There are some pacing issues, but those are nitpicks in a genuinely fun and heartfelt movie.
A Classic Story From A Different Point of View
Native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Wu) travels with her long time boyfriend Nick (Golding) to his home in Singapore. Deeply in love, Rachel doesn’t seem phased as it’s the first time she will meet his family. But things drastically change when she finds out Nick’s family is one of the richest families in Asia. Led by Nick’s mother and powerful matriarch Eleanor Young (Yeoh), the family and their friends are often openly hostile, forcing Rachel to navigate the often cutthroat world of Singapore’s rich and famous.
We have seen a story like this in several romantic comedies, but there are a few reasons why Crazy Rich Asians stands out. Like any romantic comedy, this film is buoyed by a cast of characters you want to see. Nearly everyone in this film is good hearted, charismatic or just plain fun. Constance Wu manages to incorporate all three of those traits. Her Rachel is funny, kind and always a fighter. You genuinely root for her because her reactions throughout the film feel real.
On the other hand, Henry Golding’s Nick often comes off as a little too good to be true. The character walks that line between realistic nice guy and fantasy nice guy. Golding’s performance is the difference though. He makes you believe that Nick is that good a guy. Plus, he’s charming as hell. Most importantly, he and Wu have great chemistry together. There is one scene where the two simply look at each other and you feel the love between the two.
The legendary Michelle Yeoh leads a colorful supporting cast. Regal, but never unrealistically cold, Yeoh is outstanding as Eleanor. Her dislike of Rachel never comes off as spiteful, but more of an overprotective parent…something Asians are pretty familiar with. It’s great that the character has real emotion behind her callous behavior.
There are so many supporting characters besides Yeoh, but there are some stand outs. Awkwafina continues to carve out a fun niche playing fun supporting characters as Rachel’s best friend Peik Lin. Ken Jeong actually reigns in his usual over the top comedy, although that could be due to director Jon M. Chu wisely using him sparingly. There are other characters, but in one of the movie’s flaws, there are so many that sometimes it’s hard to keep track of them all.
The real strength of the story though is how heartfelt it is, and it’s not necessarily just the romance. Yes, that love story is great and it works, but what really stands out is the genuine attention paid to balancing personal happiness with an obligation to family. As an Asian American, this is something I struggle with all the time. It’s never easy to balance following your dreams with supporting the family that’s always been there for you. And I’m not the only one. In another film or story, this dilemma might have been handled in black and white…one side is good, one side is “evil.” But Crazy Rich Asians understands the cultural differences and handles them surprisingly well. That’s probably the most surprising aspect of this film, and one that should be applauded.
Flashy Works Here
Jon M. Chu is a director mostly known for his work in music videos and the Step Up sequels, movies I didn’t really care for. I will always defend G.I. Joe: Retaliation though…well, at least the parts with Snake-Eyes, but that’s an argument for another day. But his flashy style fits Crazy Rich Asians to a tee. His quick cuts, use of vibrant colors, and general love of spectacle perfectly capture the opulent life style of Singapore’s rich and famous. It’s a crazy world that often feels almost alien and Chu does a great job capturing that.
Now there will be some who will be turned off by the film’s focus on the rich and famous. These days, it’s hard to sympathize with the super rich, but I would argue that it’s different here. Asians are rarely portrayed like this unless they are gangsters or other types of villains. So it’s refreshing to see that the Young family worked to get where they are and are just fiercely protective of their own.
Crazy Rich Asians is a great movie, but it’s not without its flaws. These flaws are more nitpicks that anything, but they do take away from the overall success. First, the movie has its pacing issues. While it never feels overly long, there are times when it feels like some plot turns are misplaced. Sometimes it feels like the narrative is coming to a logical conclusion only to start up again. There is one “twist” that comes toward the end that feels like it should have come sooner, like somewhere in the second act. Because this story turn comes so late, it feels like the conclusion is slightly rushed.
And then there’s the relationship between Nick’s cousin Astrid (Gemma Chan), one of the few Young family members sympathetic to Rachel, and her husband Michael (Pierre Png). Without getting into spoilers, their marriage serves as a nice contrast to Rachel and Nick’s relationship. Crazy Rich Asians spends time giving us a glimpse into their troubles, but it feels very underdeveloped. The little bit we do get is really interesting…it could almost be its own movie. But its resolution doesn’t have the impact it should.
Why This Is Important
I may sound like a broken record, but Crazy Rich Asians is an important potential step for Asians in Hollywood. It has a familiar romantic story, but it proves that Asians can be in mainstream stories. Much like Black Panther gave the African American community (And other minorities as well) an unexpected superhero genre hit, this movie could give the Asian creative community a well needed shot in the mainstream arm.
Rachel is a strong woman who isn’t portrayed as a “dragon lady.” Hell, the actual “dragon lady” here actually has depth with Eleanor. Nick is a sex symbol…how often does that happen for a male Asian character? Hopefully, Crazy Rich Asians will be part of a wave of representation in Hollywood.
Plus, it’s pretty damn fun to watch.
SCORE: 9 OUT OF 10