The opening scene of Crazy Rich Asians is the key to the rest of the movie. Okay, so it feels silly to say there's a "key" to unlocking a straight-forward and purely enjoyable studio romantic comedy. But in this brief prologue, director Jon M. Chu and screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim introduce the tonal balance that ends up being crucial to the rest of the film.
It goes like this. In the late 1990s, Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh) is checking into a posh hotel in the heart of London with her two children. Little Nick Young even tracks in mud with his shoes, much to the horror of the hotel staff. Eleanor asks to be shown to their room. The concierge refuses, saying there's nobody under their name. She asks again. The concierge remains adamant and dismissive.
So Eleanor makes a call to her husband. And the Young family buys the hotel.
It's the perfect payoff, and even though the scene is never mentioned again, it feels brilliantly essential to the final product, both in terms of the tone and Eleanor's personal journey. In one respect, Crazy Rich Asians is about the cultural differences between opposing societies, discrepancies that result in both innocuous misunderstandings and some fairly sinister actions (like the clearly racist behavior of the aforementioned concierge). But at the same time, Chu's film is a big and warm-hearted rom-com, one that is filled with bright colors, gorgeous movie stars, and enough obscene wealth to make your head spin. It's never too heavy to be "serious," but it's also never so lightweight that it risks being forgettable. It falls somewhere in between, existing at the crossroads of a complex character study and a flashy rom-com.
That's a tough line to walk, but Crazy Rich Asians is just a joy to behold. The film follows the relationship of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and Nick Young (Henry Golding), two lovebirds in present day New York. Rachel is an economics professor at NYU, while Nick does.....something. During a lunch date, Nick suggests a trip to Singapore for spring break, where Rachel can meet his family and attend the wedding of Colin (Chris Pang) and Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno). Along the way, she can reunite with Peik Lin (Awkwafina), her close friend from undergrad who currently lives with her wealthy family in Singapore. What Rachel doesn't know is that Nick is also rich. Well, "rich" might be an understatement. Nick Young is the heir to the most powerful family in the country, and his every move is tracked by gossip rags and family friends alike.
While Rachel is initially impressed by the extravagance and luxury of the Young lifestyle, it quickly becomes obvious that she's an outsider in a very tightly knit world. All of Nick's cousins are famous, from fashion icon Astrid (Gemma Chan) to in-demand filmmaker Eddie (Ronny Chieng). According to Peik Lin, this is the family that practically created the nation of Singapore. Rachel doesn't belong here, and when it becomes obvious that things are serious between her and Nick, the wolves come out for blood. Even Eleanor and Nick's grandmother (Lisa Lu) are unwelcoming, leaving Rachel to question her relationship with her boyfriend. But as the wedding approaches and the conflict heats up, will Rachel fall prey to the Young family's tricks or will she fight back?
I know we still have, oh, every single major Oscar contender left to see, but I truly believe that Crazy Rich Asians could snag a nomination for Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards if Warner Bros. gives it a good shot. From our lovely leads to the smallest of bit parts, this cast is thoroughly, almost unfathomably tremendous. By the time the drama inevitably came to an end (spoiler alert?) in an ecstatic final sequence, I felt a tangible connection to so many of these characters, whether they were lovable, despicable, or somewhere in between. On a specific level, Constance Wu does wonderful work with the most difficult role, tasked with being a fierce and composed heroine and a genuinely complex protagonist. She's stuck with conflicting emotions that don't seem to be easily reconciled, putting her in a precarious position.
Plus, she has excellent chemistry with Henry Golding, who is so effortlessly dashing that I'm convinced he could be our next James Bond. Seriously, give this man a Walther PPK and a white tuxedo ASAP. Other scene-stealers include Nico Santos as Young family fashion expert Oliver, Chris Pang and Sonoya Mizuno as the sweet newlyweds, Gemma Chan as the sympathetic Astrid, and Awkwafina as Rachel's brash and fearless right-hand woman.
Michelle Yeoh is also phenomenal; in fact, she's so good that I would practically consider her the third lead of the film. Eleanor's mental battle with Rachel is so unpredictable and layered, often veering into issues of generational conflict and the modern definition of family values. Crazy Rich Asians' specific cultural significance as the first major film with an all-Asian-American cast since The Joy Luck Club is justifiably the major point of discussion, but this is also a necessary study of progress in the face of deeply rooted tradition. And in a year that saw an African-American woman become a princess in the most tradition-rich family in the western world, the story of Rachel and Nick feels even more relevant on a socio-political level. General audiences might not understand the dynamics of the Mahjong scene (many thinkpieces have already been written about the tense exchange between Rachel and Eleanor), but the fundamental battle in Chu's film will touch everyone.
I wouldn't necessarily label these ideas as subtext (all of the big ideas are pretty explicitly stated), but this is still a joyfully entertaining ride, no matter the necessary gravitas of the film's themes. Crazy Rich Asians is a fantasy for those who dream of mingling with (or marrying) the super rich, but it's equally effective as a soap opera on a Hollywood budget. While Chu keeps things light and pleasant, the twists and turns land in a major way, with enough dramatic momentum behind them to elicit some gasps from an invested viewer. It helps that Rachel and Eleanor, our main foils, are both sympathetic characters, each with their own distinct rationale for their choices. The film doesn't take sides, making it a challenge for us.
But beyond the delicious family conflicts and fascinating social context, the sheer energy and vibrancy of Chu's direction emerges as the film's most powerful asset. Each frame is dripping with a kaleidoscopic array of lush colors and eye-catching hues, serving as the ideal backdrop for this kind of exquisite love story. Chu keeps the film feeling buoyant and jazzy, only slowing things down to linger on a major moment or provide some much-needed catharsis. He knows when to take command of a scene with musical flourishes, and he knows when to just let his brilliant cast do the work. It's no small task to make such a dazzling romantic comedy, but with its balance of real world politics and flights of affluent fancy, Crazy Rich Asians works like a charm.
On an unrelated note, I think I'd like to go to Singapore soon.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (7.8/10)
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
It goes like this. In the late 1990s, Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh) is checking into a posh hotel in the heart of London with her two children. Little Nick Young even tracks in mud with his shoes, much to the horror of the hotel staff. Eleanor asks to be shown to their room. The concierge refuses, saying there's nobody under their name. She asks again. The concierge remains adamant and dismissive.
So Eleanor makes a call to her husband. And the Young family buys the hotel.
It's the perfect payoff, and even though the scene is never mentioned again, it feels brilliantly essential to the final product, both in terms of the tone and Eleanor's personal journey. In one respect, Crazy Rich Asians is about the cultural differences between opposing societies, discrepancies that result in both innocuous misunderstandings and some fairly sinister actions (like the clearly racist behavior of the aforementioned concierge). But at the same time, Chu's film is a big and warm-hearted rom-com, one that is filled with bright colors, gorgeous movie stars, and enough obscene wealth to make your head spin. It's never too heavy to be "serious," but it's also never so lightweight that it risks being forgettable. It falls somewhere in between, existing at the crossroads of a complex character study and a flashy rom-com.
That's a tough line to walk, but Crazy Rich Asians is just a joy to behold. The film follows the relationship of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and Nick Young (Henry Golding), two lovebirds in present day New York. Rachel is an economics professor at NYU, while Nick does.....something. During a lunch date, Nick suggests a trip to Singapore for spring break, where Rachel can meet his family and attend the wedding of Colin (Chris Pang) and Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno). Along the way, she can reunite with Peik Lin (Awkwafina), her close friend from undergrad who currently lives with her wealthy family in Singapore. What Rachel doesn't know is that Nick is also rich. Well, "rich" might be an understatement. Nick Young is the heir to the most powerful family in the country, and his every move is tracked by gossip rags and family friends alike.
While Rachel is initially impressed by the extravagance and luxury of the Young lifestyle, it quickly becomes obvious that she's an outsider in a very tightly knit world. All of Nick's cousins are famous, from fashion icon Astrid (Gemma Chan) to in-demand filmmaker Eddie (Ronny Chieng). According to Peik Lin, this is the family that practically created the nation of Singapore. Rachel doesn't belong here, and when it becomes obvious that things are serious between her and Nick, the wolves come out for blood. Even Eleanor and Nick's grandmother (Lisa Lu) are unwelcoming, leaving Rachel to question her relationship with her boyfriend. But as the wedding approaches and the conflict heats up, will Rachel fall prey to the Young family's tricks or will she fight back?
I know we still have, oh, every single major Oscar contender left to see, but I truly believe that Crazy Rich Asians could snag a nomination for Best Ensemble at the SAG Awards if Warner Bros. gives it a good shot. From our lovely leads to the smallest of bit parts, this cast is thoroughly, almost unfathomably tremendous. By the time the drama inevitably came to an end (spoiler alert?) in an ecstatic final sequence, I felt a tangible connection to so many of these characters, whether they were lovable, despicable, or somewhere in between. On a specific level, Constance Wu does wonderful work with the most difficult role, tasked with being a fierce and composed heroine and a genuinely complex protagonist. She's stuck with conflicting emotions that don't seem to be easily reconciled, putting her in a precarious position.
Plus, she has excellent chemistry with Henry Golding, who is so effortlessly dashing that I'm convinced he could be our next James Bond. Seriously, give this man a Walther PPK and a white tuxedo ASAP. Other scene-stealers include Nico Santos as Young family fashion expert Oliver, Chris Pang and Sonoya Mizuno as the sweet newlyweds, Gemma Chan as the sympathetic Astrid, and Awkwafina as Rachel's brash and fearless right-hand woman.
Michelle Yeoh is also phenomenal; in fact, she's so good that I would practically consider her the third lead of the film. Eleanor's mental battle with Rachel is so unpredictable and layered, often veering into issues of generational conflict and the modern definition of family values. Crazy Rich Asians' specific cultural significance as the first major film with an all-Asian-American cast since The Joy Luck Club is justifiably the major point of discussion, but this is also a necessary study of progress in the face of deeply rooted tradition. And in a year that saw an African-American woman become a princess in the most tradition-rich family in the western world, the story of Rachel and Nick feels even more relevant on a socio-political level. General audiences might not understand the dynamics of the Mahjong scene (many thinkpieces have already been written about the tense exchange between Rachel and Eleanor), but the fundamental battle in Chu's film will touch everyone.
I wouldn't necessarily label these ideas as subtext (all of the big ideas are pretty explicitly stated), but this is still a joyfully entertaining ride, no matter the necessary gravitas of the film's themes. Crazy Rich Asians is a fantasy for those who dream of mingling with (or marrying) the super rich, but it's equally effective as a soap opera on a Hollywood budget. While Chu keeps things light and pleasant, the twists and turns land in a major way, with enough dramatic momentum behind them to elicit some gasps from an invested viewer. It helps that Rachel and Eleanor, our main foils, are both sympathetic characters, each with their own distinct rationale for their choices. The film doesn't take sides, making it a challenge for us.
But beyond the delicious family conflicts and fascinating social context, the sheer energy and vibrancy of Chu's direction emerges as the film's most powerful asset. Each frame is dripping with a kaleidoscopic array of lush colors and eye-catching hues, serving as the ideal backdrop for this kind of exquisite love story. Chu keeps the film feeling buoyant and jazzy, only slowing things down to linger on a major moment or provide some much-needed catharsis. He knows when to take command of a scene with musical flourishes, and he knows when to just let his brilliant cast do the work. It's no small task to make such a dazzling romantic comedy, but with its balance of real world politics and flights of affluent fancy, Crazy Rich Asians works like a charm.
On an unrelated note, I think I'd like to go to Singapore soon.
THE FINAL GRADE: B+ (7.8/10)
Images courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures
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