CRAZY RICH ASIANS
By Le Anne Lindsay, Editor
Remember the first time you saw Pretty Woman and Vivienne (Julia Roberts) strolls back into the posh shop which had snubbed her on Rodeo drive, loaded with shopping bags, asking the sales person if she works on commission - "Big Mistake, Huge!" Well, there's a similarly satisfying scene of judgement and retribution which opens the movie Crazy Rich Asians, directed by Jon M. Chu, based on a bestselling 2013 novel by Kevin Kwan.
Constance Wu plays Rachel Chou, a NYU Econ professor. For the last year she's been dating Nick Young, a guy she assumes is just your average New Yorker on her same level; although, we never find out what he's been doing for a living while in the States. Nick is played by newcomer Henry Golding, and he's gorgeous! like, he can give Henry Cavill (Superman) a run for his money in the looks, and surprisingly, acting department, despite this being Golding's first movie role. Speaking of money, when Nick has to go home to Singapore for a family wedding and wants to bring Rachel with him, he’s gotta come clean to her that he’s the sole heir to one of the riches fortunes in Asia. Rachel takes the deception pretty well - I mean it's hard to get mad at someone for lying about their wealth when you're flying super deluxe first class. But the ride gets bumpy when she's introduced to Nick's disapproving mother, grand dame of a Grandmother and a society that sees Rachel as a gold-digger or at the very least an American commoner not good enough for their golden boy.The movie was shot on location in Singapore and Malaysia, creating a love letter to the food, culture and beauty of this area. It makes you want to immediately put Singapore on your bucket list of places to visit. I had no idea it was so glamorous and contemporary. Total food in film moment comes when Rachel & Nick first meet up with the wedding couple and order tons of dishes from street vendors. They say it's one of the only cities where street vendors can earn Michelin Stars!
You can't do a rom/com without the comic relief, found in spades with rapper turned actress Awkwafina. She plays Peik Lin, Rachel's college roommate, she's an outlandish treat, full of crazy high fashion, deadpan enthusiasm and sage advice. I love when she breaks down the Young family history on an Atlas handbag, calling them so posh and snobby, they're snoschy.
The "B" plot, aside from the wedding of the century, involves Nick's exceedingly beautiful and stylishly refined cousin Astrid (Gemma Chan) who was the first in the family to marry beneath their station, a complication that hasn't gotten easier with time.
Yes, no one is denying this movie is a rom/com, but it's a GOOD one, the kind I used to love in the 90's that went by the wayside somewhere along the way, with a few pale imitations here and there starring Jennifer Aniston.
Director Jon M. Chu, cast members Gemma Chan and Jimmy O. Yang
came to Philly to introduce the movie. Check out the video below:
The cast represent a range of nationalities and countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and The Philippines, as well as the U.S., UK, and Australia. I've already seen the movie twice, just because I think it's delightful. But I’m also hoping Crazy Rich Asians does for Asian actors and movie-goers what Black Panther did for black and brown audiences.
T&T the Large Association of Movie Blogs (aka the LAMb) rating 5 outta 5
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