Based on a novel of the same title by Kevin Kwan, Crazy Rich Asians is a 2018 American-Asian romantic-comedy directed by Jon M. Chu. Though predominantly a Chinese-Singaporean cast, the language spoken is English, being as most of the actors and actresses are either British/American born or raised.
The film begins with a scene that immediately draws you in. The manager of a plush London hotel exhibits his blatant racial intolerance by refusing to book an East-Asian family into one of their rooms. Well, let’s just say, he was in for a rude awakening!
Years later, a young University Professor, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), who has always wondered why her boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding) said so little about his family, was surprised when he invited her to travel home with him to Singapore for his best friend, Colin Khoo (Chris Pang) and his fiancé, Araminta Lee’s (Sonoya Mizuno) wedding. In the process, Rachel would get to meet his family. She’s anxious and nervous but excited. On their unexpected luxurious plane ride, she discovers something shocking – Nick is a member of one of the richest families in Singapore. The billionaire ‘Young’ family were practically the royalty of Singapore, and Nick is the heir to the empire.
Nick’s life is beyond what Rachel had ever imagined. She experiences the true meaning of “money talks”. His big family is made up of quirky and unique cousins. One such unique cousin is classy and sophisticated Astrid Leong-Teo (Gemma Chan). Pleasantly, it seems the family matriarch, Nick’s grandmother, Shang Su Yi (Lisa Lu) has taken a liking to Rachel.
However, things aren’t going all that smoothly at all. First of all, not everyone seems to be accepting of Rachel, with a few of them, including one of Nick’s ex-girlfriends, Mandy Ling (Jin Lusi), labelling her a gold digger. To make things worse, Nick’s mother, Eleanor Sung-Young (Michelle Yeoh) does not like or approve of Rachel, and she isn’t hiding that fact. With the support of her rich and funny best friend, Goh Peik Lin (Awkwafina), Rachel has to find a way to prove to Nick’s domineering and intimidating mother that she is worthy of her son and the family name.
It is one of those really entertaining, fun films that razzle dazzle you and make you want to dream. It reminds me of the Netflix American reality TV series, Bling Empire. If you haven’t seen the series, then it’s a much watch! Just like Bling Empire, Crazy Rich Asians takes you into the life of the East-Asian elite. You are transported into a life of luxury with beautiful mansions, massive walk-in closets, expensive cars, high fashion, and amazing, creative, over-the-top parties. This film isn’t just about a romantic love story with an entertaining plot, it’s also about the sheer opulence in which the wealthy and successful society lives. Every detail was lavish; from the small to the big.
I loved that it also had a positive theme – love trumps money. There are quite a number of familiar faces too, such as Gemma Chan, who played Anita/Mia in 2015-2018 American Sci-Fi TV series, Humans, among other notable works. Plus popular actress, comedian, rapper, TV host, Nora Lum, popularly known as ‘Awkwafina’ who brought her brand of comic relief to the film along with Ken Jeong, who played crazy funny Mr Chow in 2009-2013’s famous American comedy film franchise, Hangover (1-3). Let’s not forget Michelle Yeoh who has starred in films like 1998’s American action James Bond spy film Franchise, Tomorrow Never Dies, 2000’s Wuxia fantasy action-adventure, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2005’s American epic-drama, Memoirs of a Geisha, 2018’s American Sci-fi TV series, Star Trek: Discovery, to name just a few😉
If you’re looking for a feel-good, awe provoking, light-hearted film, then this is one I definitely recommend. It’s not lengthy, action-packed or a huge blockbuster, but it delivers on what it sells and did incredibly well in the box office when it was released. I certainly enjoyed it. Rating? 8.2 out of 10.
Currently available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Further Information
Writer
Adele Lim & Peter Chiarelli
Screenwriters
Director
Played Rachel Chu, Nick's girlfriend.
Played Kerry Chu, Rachel's mother
Played Nick Young, Rachel's boyfriend, and Eleanor's son.
Played Eleanor Sung-Young, Nick's mother.
Played Shang Su Yi, Nick's grandmother, the family matriarch.
Played Astrid Leong-Teo, Nick's fashion mogul and socialite cousin and wife to Michael.
Played Michael Teo, Astrid's husband.
Played Felicity Young, Astrid's mother.
Played Eddie Cheng, Nick’s cousin, and Fiona's husband.
Played Fiona Tung-Cheng, Eddie's wife.
Played Alistair Cheng, Eddie's brother, and Nick's movie-making cousin.
Played Oliver T'sien, Nick's second cousin.
Played Goh Peik Lin, Rachel's funny best friend.
Played Goh Wye Mun, Peik Lin's wealthy father.
Played Neena Goh, Peik Lin's mother.
Played Colin Khoo, Nick's childhood best friend and Araminta's fiancé.
Played Araminta Lee, Colin's fiancée and heiress to a billion dollar resort chain.
Played Mandy Ling, Nick's ex-girlfriend.
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