Crazy Rich Asians is a triumph for many reasons. The most pressing one is how its story, twists and turns, humor, romance and visual spectacle completely transcend race and region. Cinema’s best tales do that and in this age of the global box office, having a script that checks off many boxes for many people has never been more important. Sadly, not every Hollywood executive has seen the writing on the wall that our diverse society is only exponentially getting more diverse—so there is still a long way to go.
But it is encouraging that the first film featuring an all-Asian cast in decades triumphs on so many levels and does so in a manner that has all the feels being completely and utterly universal in scope.
A decade prior, a successful film might be seen as a lark—whether it like a Black Panther, Ocean’s 8 or Crazy Rich Asians.
Nowadays, although those film’s successes aren’t likely to see an army of diverse subject centric films see the light of day, what it will do is find a handful moving forward in development. No matter how you analyze it, that is historic. It will also only continue as more of the old guard retire or move on and generations of those of us raised with a diverse collective of friends take over the decision-making positions that deliver stories to the masses.
Based on the Kevin Kwan book of the same moniker, Crazy Rich Asians finds a Chinese American woman, Rachel Chu (Rachel Wu) dating who could be the man of her dreams. He is everything—considerate, kind, endearing, caring and handsome as all hell. Nick Young (Henry Golding) and his girlfriend live in New York City and have carved out a blissful life for themselves. Nick is ready to take the next big step—introducing his lovely lady to his family… in Singapore. He is set to be the Best Man in his BFF’s wedding and it promises to be the wedding of the year on the Chinese island.
Something Nick has failed to mention to Rachel is that his family is not just rich, they are crazy rich. That becomes immediately apparent as soon as they arrive in Asia. Rachel gets the sense that her beau is considered one of the most eligible bachelors in China and the entire endeavor is an explosive, eye-opening affair of the highest order. Making matters worse is the fact that Nick’s mother Eleanor Young (played by legend Michelle Yeoh), is not a fan of his choice in partners. She is subtle at first with her displeasure and then eventually, Eleanor is devilishly direct.
Luckily for Rachel, she has a college friend in Singapore, Peik Lin Goh (the supremely talented Awkwafina), to not only catch up with, but to commiserate with and form a plan of action for how to deal with this dragon of a lady.
Director Jon M. Chu shows his firm command of his gifts with his latest. The man who started his career on the music/dance side of things (Step Up, Justin Bieber: Never Say Never) has evolved immensely and illustrates that there is nothing he cannot handle with his camera. From Now You See Me 2 to G.I. Joe: Retaliation and now with this rich tapestry of romance, humor and cultural charm, the helmer proves that he is merely scratching the surface of his promise and potential.
Chu has a simultaneously sentimental and forward-thinking cinematic experience that not only shines a light on the Chinese culture, their attitudes towards family and tradition, but also manages to craft a rom-com that transcends genre, peoples and even geography. Crazy Rich Asians is truly special and a must-see for not only those who treasure the waning art of romantic comedy, but the art of storytelling that arrives with a broad stroke that can be described in one word—inclusion.
Wu and Golding give off sparks as effervescent as firecrackers. Both actors not only have chemistry with each other, but keenly know when to let the other lead the “dance” that is their thespian interactions. That is also the case with each when they share scenes with other performers. Wu has shown priceless timing with her TV work on Fresh Off the Boat. Meanwhile, Golding shows talent beyond his resume. Crazy Rich Asians is his first major role and what he achieves with this work has us eager to see how he mixes it up with Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick in the upcoming A Simple Favor.
The ensemble too is top notch, especially Yeoh and Awkwafina. The former usually portrays characters we cheer for (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon). So, it takes some getting used to witnessing her be so cold when the audience clearly desires her to warm up to her potential daughter-in-law. What is so fascinating about her performance is that we do not see her as a villain in the traditional way. She is protecting her son, as she sees it, and her family’s massive wealth. It doesn’t make it right, but this is how a character such as Eleonor is wired. Through Yeoh’s talent, we have sympathy for her, which is extraordinary because it is truly an unsympathetic soul she portrays.
Now, Awkwafina, we are relieved to see that she finally has a film that embraces her talents instead of wastes it. Sure, Ocean’s 8 was an enjoyable ride. But, they didn’t know how to use the actress to her fullest. She takes a smaller, supporting, role in Crazy Rich Asians and not only injects her trademark humor that provides some fun moments peppered through the film, but also slays it as the tough-as-nails BFF that gives priceless support to Rachel in her time of need.
Ken Jeong does his best as Goh’s dad with a part that is quite thankless. He makes the most of the minimalist role. The comedic actor’s comedic chemistry with Awkwafina—his onscreen daughter—is delightful. Now, can we get a spin-off that focuses on the two of them?!
Much like Spike Lee achieved in BlackkKlansman, Chu has firmly put his audience in this world. Never for one second does this universe seem contrived or put together for the sake of a story. Yes, it is a wealthy landscape and opulence is everywhere. That is not even what I’m talking about in terms of the director’s ability to capture this world so much so that we felt Crazy Rich Asian withdrawal heading home to our pedantic reality (I joke!). There is never a moment through Chu’s latest film where the mind can wander to the goings-on of our current reality. That is a priceless gift in a filmmaker who can transport his or her audience to another place, time or locale.
Then, there’s the soundtrack. Between Chinese versions of Coldplay’s Yellow and Madonna’s Material Girl, Chu’s sonic choices payoff in droves in terms of setting the tone and tenor of his film. The highlight must be a stunning acoustic version of Elvis Pressley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love. Bring the tissues for that scene as it elevates the emotive power of the entire scene.
For that matter, the song essentially encompasses our feeling towards the entire Crazy Rich Asians effort.
Grade: A