New Yorker Rachel Chu accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young, to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. It turns out that he is not only the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Being on Nick’s arm puts a target on Rachel’s back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother taking aim. And it soon becomes clear that while money can’t buy love, it can definitely complicate things.
To be honest, we walked into Crazy Rich Asians with a feeling of trepidation, expecting a cliche-ridden romantic comedy with stereotypical Asian jokes. But boy oh boy were we wrong on so many levels.
Based on Singapore-born writer Kevin Kwan's best-selling novel of the same name, Crazy Rich Asians is an emotional knockout and an instant classic up there with the likes of When Harry Met Sally, Amelie and Notting Hill.
From the humour, dialogue to the acting and music, everything is spot-on and executed flawlessly. Yes, there are characters who may be way too over-the-top and scenes that are way too opulent to believe, but the movie's ostentatious displays of grandiosity don't actually detract you from the story.
It's a grounded and familiar one which unfolds with a fresh and winsome perspective, touching on the significance of Asian class and culture and its effect on relationships. Kind of like how last year's The Big Sick had managed to subvert the genre, Crazy Rich Asians is a big win for representation in Hollywood.
Constance Wu as Rachel Chu is a revelation and rightfully deserves all the accolades coming her way for her delightful performance. You can't help but to laugh with her, sympathize with her and cry with her as she struggles with a life unexpected.
Majority of the film also rests on Michelle Yeoh's shoulders, whose role as a Tiger mom and the yin to Rachel's yang, which if done improperly, could have rendered the movie into an overly dramatic farce. That's not the case here -- her incredibly nuanced portrayal elevates Crazy Rich Asians to greatness.
We walked out with huge smiles on our faces and we believe you will do the same.
Rating: 5/5
Extremely funny, touching and visually stunning, Crazy Rich Asians completely blew our expectations away! It was simply a beautiful movie and a novel experience that needs to be shared with your friends, family and loved ones.
Photocredit @ Warner Bros. Pictures
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