Crazy Rich Asians became something of a box office phenomenon when it opened strongly in the United States a few weeks ago (and demonstrates no signs of slowing down anytime soon). It has exhibited minuscule week-on-week drops and powerful legs not seen since The Greatest Showman refused to leave theatres after its extraordinary run earlier this year; it breathtaking performance has impacted its UK release date too, bringing it forward from November in order to capitalise on the sensational word-of-mouth. As the first major Hollywood production to features a majority Asian cast since 1993m Crazy Rich Asians - rightly or wrongly - has a lot to prove.
When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) accepts an invitation to the Singapore home of her boyfriend of one year, Nick Young (Henry Golding), she discovers his families obscene wealth and the life of luxury that they lead - as well as the strict matriarch that leaves her feeling unwelcome. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring an array of names, Crazy Rich Asians is a culturally-refreshing and glamourous romantic-comedy that struggles to overcome genre cliches and narrative beats that prevents it from rising above the competition.
With luscious production design and costumes enriching the cultural angle, Crazy Rich Asians is no doubt a gorgeous film to marvel at. It's lavish and exuberant with a fairytale charm that marries up well with the 'underdog' themes embedded within the story and script. Adorned with opulence and grandeur at each turn and in every set piece, it is a glossy piece that clearly demonstrates its director's filmographic past; Chu - known for his concert documentaries - bring the same sheen to the forefront here, enhanced by an art department who help absorb you in the setting of high society Singapore. Perhaps the immodest surroundings breed a superficiality that distracts you from the formulaic narrative at work - but that plays well into the themes and messages of the story, accidentally or not.
Family dynamics are explored effectively throughout Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim's screenplay adapted from Kevin Kwan's novel of the same name. Its metaphors are heavy-handed (it all harkens back to a game theory that feels very on-the-nose) and the dramatic turmoil is laboured and disappointingly threadbare - but circumvents how predictable and clunky it is in its structure and nature by infusing insight into the frame. Particularly for an outsider, it is interesting to see how these different families, both of class and culture, operate, along with familial expectations and pressures. It is not afraid to represent these people as entitled without turning them into purely antagonistic figures; and although very broadly drawn, the plethora of characters are interesting, mainly thanks to the solid ensemble that bring them to live.
Led by Constance Wu, who so excellently balances Rachel's headstrong resilience and drive with a vulnerability that makes her all the more endearing, Crazy Rich Asians' cast compensates for a script that plays it incredibly safe, relying heavily on genre conventions to do the heavy lifting. Wu carries the script when it becomes slightly scattered and disjointed in the final act, bringing a bubbly, energetic performance that compliments Henry Golding's laidback and particularly charming Nick. Forming a sparkling, believable chemistry, the pair's romance convinces and bolsters the story throughout the inevitable third-act relationship trouble.
However, it is Gemma Chan who threatens to steal the entire film in a supporting capacity, with a beautifully-rendered turn undone by how unfulfilling the screenplay can be in regards to her subplot. Illustrating the once-materialistic Astrid comes to find her own strength, Chan brings nuance to an often ostentatious piece, with a complex emotion found within her performance that allows her to shine. She impresses, as does Michelle Yeoh, whose cold, unnerving Eleanor Young is reason enough to avoid meeting the in-laws; her line delivery is unsurprisingly tremendous and she is an unwavering presence throughout the film.
Crazy Rich Asians' refreshing cultural focus only just manages to overcome the stale narrative formula and expectant genre beats, in thanks to the solid ensemble led terrifically by Wu, Golding and Chan. The film often finds itself distracted by the contrived story that places such an emphasis on extravagance that almost everything else plays second fiddle. Stripped of its cultural decorations, Crazy Rich Asians is a generic, conventional yet somewhat enjoyable rom-com, frothy if throwaway. It's not particularly funny and the forced comic relief misses as frequently as it hits - but this new perspective (and the film's overall success) is something that deserved to be cheered on; I just cannot help wish that it was a stronger film in its own right.
Summary: Crazy Rich Asians is a culturally-refreshing and glamorous rom-com that nevertheless struggles to overcome genre cliches and predictable narrative beats, made enjoyable by a strong ensemble dazzling amongst the film's endless extravagance.
When Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) accepts an invitation to the Singapore home of her boyfriend of one year, Nick Young (Henry Golding), she discovers his families obscene wealth and the life of luxury that they lead - as well as the strict matriarch that leaves her feeling unwelcome. Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring an array of names, Crazy Rich Asians is a culturally-refreshing and glamourous romantic-comedy that struggles to overcome genre cliches and narrative beats that prevents it from rising above the competition.
With luscious production design and costumes enriching the cultural angle, Crazy Rich Asians is no doubt a gorgeous film to marvel at. It's lavish and exuberant with a fairytale charm that marries up well with the 'underdog' themes embedded within the story and script. Adorned with opulence and grandeur at each turn and in every set piece, it is a glossy piece that clearly demonstrates its director's filmographic past; Chu - known for his concert documentaries - bring the same sheen to the forefront here, enhanced by an art department who help absorb you in the setting of high society Singapore. Perhaps the immodest surroundings breed a superficiality that distracts you from the formulaic narrative at work - but that plays well into the themes and messages of the story, accidentally or not.
Family dynamics are explored effectively throughout Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim's screenplay adapted from Kevin Kwan's novel of the same name. Its metaphors are heavy-handed (it all harkens back to a game theory that feels very on-the-nose) and the dramatic turmoil is laboured and disappointingly threadbare - but circumvents how predictable and clunky it is in its structure and nature by infusing insight into the frame. Particularly for an outsider, it is interesting to see how these different families, both of class and culture, operate, along with familial expectations and pressures. It is not afraid to represent these people as entitled without turning them into purely antagonistic figures; and although very broadly drawn, the plethora of characters are interesting, mainly thanks to the solid ensemble that bring them to live.
Led by Constance Wu, who so excellently balances Rachel's headstrong resilience and drive with a vulnerability that makes her all the more endearing, Crazy Rich Asians' cast compensates for a script that plays it incredibly safe, relying heavily on genre conventions to do the heavy lifting. Wu carries the script when it becomes slightly scattered and disjointed in the final act, bringing a bubbly, energetic performance that compliments Henry Golding's laidback and particularly charming Nick. Forming a sparkling, believable chemistry, the pair's romance convinces and bolsters the story throughout the inevitable third-act relationship trouble.
However, it is Gemma Chan who threatens to steal the entire film in a supporting capacity, with a beautifully-rendered turn undone by how unfulfilling the screenplay can be in regards to her subplot. Illustrating the once-materialistic Astrid comes to find her own strength, Chan brings nuance to an often ostentatious piece, with a complex emotion found within her performance that allows her to shine. She impresses, as does Michelle Yeoh, whose cold, unnerving Eleanor Young is reason enough to avoid meeting the in-laws; her line delivery is unsurprisingly tremendous and she is an unwavering presence throughout the film.
Crazy Rich Asians' refreshing cultural focus only just manages to overcome the stale narrative formula and expectant genre beats, in thanks to the solid ensemble led terrifically by Wu, Golding and Chan. The film often finds itself distracted by the contrived story that places such an emphasis on extravagance that almost everything else plays second fiddle. Stripped of its cultural decorations, Crazy Rich Asians is a generic, conventional yet somewhat enjoyable rom-com, frothy if throwaway. It's not particularly funny and the forced comic relief misses as frequently as it hits - but this new perspective (and the film's overall success) is something that deserved to be cheered on; I just cannot help wish that it was a stronger film in its own right.
★★★★★★☆☆☆☆
(6/10)
Summary: Crazy Rich Asians is a culturally-refreshing and glamorous rom-com that nevertheless struggles to overcome genre cliches and predictable narrative beats, made enjoyable by a strong ensemble dazzling amongst the film's endless extravagance.