Crazy Rich Asians Movie Review

“Crazy Rich Asians” is based on a popular book about some, well — crazy rich Asians. This could have ended up as a parody along the lines of “Lifestyles of the Rich and Asian”. But because of a careful eye towards casting and a respectful look at traditions, this winds up as a feel-good love story. One that includes a lot of handmade dumplings and some mahjong thrown into the mix. This is the first all-Asian cast in 25-years, since “The Joy Luck Club”. So I guess the next all-Asian movie will be due out in 2043…

The main story revolves around Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) who is a professor at New York University. She is dating Nick Young (Henry Golding) for about a year, and he asks her to join him. He will be going back to his home in Singapore to be in his best friend’s wedding. Rachel agrees, but is scared to meet Nick’s family. He has not told her anything about them, but his family is one of the wealthiest in all of Singapore. His father has amassed a huge fortune in the country, and the extended family has become even richer. Rachel happens to have an old college roommate who lives in Singapore. Peik Lin (Awkwafina) knows the scoop on the marvelous Young family.

Rachel is shocked at the first-class flight back to Singapore. She ponders what it is that she might be getting herself into. But at the airport to meet them are Nick’s best friend Colin (Chris Pang) and Colin’s fiancée Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno). Nick is enjoying being back where he grew up and being with his friends. Rachel is working to keep up. But then Rachel is in a whirlwind as she meets the Nick’s many cousins: Astrid (Gemma Chan), Eddie (Ronny Chieng), Alistair (Remy Hii) and even a second cousin Oliver (Nico Santos). Oliver is All-Gay All-Day, and he makes no bones about being the ‘Rainbow Sheep’ of the family. However, Rachel also gets to meet Nick’s mother – Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh). She is chilly and strict, and Rachel is wary of her glare.

Araminta takes all the girls out for a bachelorette party, and rents out an entire island to make it happen. Shopping and spa dates are on the main menu. But also there are little petty swipes at Rachel, because some think she tried to get Nick only for the family money. Bernard (Jimmy O. Yang) is also an old friend of Nick’s and he plans the bachelor party. But this thing is a huge Event, because he takes everyone out to ‘International Waters’ to party out on a pimped-up cargo carrier ship. But all parties must come to an end, and Nick reveals plans to Colin that he will propose to Rachel. However Rachel is feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the constant excess and overpowering wealth all around her. These people are not just over-the-top — they are so high up they are in geo-synchronous orbit.

Rachel relies on her college friend Peik Lin for help in the confusion. She is also comforted by her family. Peik Lin’s father Goh Wye (Ken Jeong) and her mother Neena (Koh Chieng Mun) have many good words for Rachel. They let her know that she is not a ‘banana’ (yellow on the outside and white on the inside). Eleanor Young is displeased with Nick’s taste in women and lets Rachel know that the family traditions are too important for Nick’s small measure of happiness. Eleanor thinks that Rachel has been in America for too long, and never grew up to know the difficult parts of Chinese life. Self-sacrifice is important to Eleanor, because that is what was imposed on her.

But it comes time for the wedding for Colin and Araminta. Rachel goes to the wedding and becomes a thorn in the side of Eleanor. Then later at the reception, Eleanor reveals a family secret. But not from her family, it is from Rachel’s past. Rachel is set back even more with this new information, and she begins to spiral downward. She is a deep funk and there is no way to get her out of it. Or it there? Some things finally happen and that puts Rachel (and Nick) back on a happier road.

This movie is – yes – crazy with over-the-top fun and – ahem – rich in the portrayal of a culture (Asian) that gets very little screen time. But more than a gimmick, the all-Asian cast and crew bring an important passion and authenticity to the project. That makes the movie better and the results are fun to watch. All the actors play very dynamic roles, but there are quite a few in the ensemble. You might get lost a few times knowing  who was related to whom (I know I did). Awkwafina and Nico Santos play super funny characters, and they go the extra mile.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is delectable meal of a movie, with only one problem. It could leave you wanting more like this in the future. Just better brush up on your mahjong skills before you see it!