“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!

“Dog Days” is a movie named after the dead of summer, when many times things come to a crawl and life slows down. But this mixed breed of a movie has a theory that new friends can be found and romance can be kindled, with just a little canine help. Using a large ensemble cast and interweaving story lines, they are trying to go for the loosely connected Rom-Com style. Perhaps you could call it: “Love, Arf-ily”.  The main connecting thread is a group of dogs; Mabel, Sam, Charlie and Gertrude.

These dogs are in the care of some humans. Mabel (a very overweight pug) is with a retired professor named Walter (Ron Cephas Jones), who lives alone after the passing of his wife. He meets a pizza delivery boy named Tyler (Finn Wolfhard), and when Mabel runs away, Walter and Tyler team up. A childless couple named Kurt (Rob Corddry) and Grace (Eva Longoria) adopt a little girl. But the child is unhappy, until she comes across a stray very overweight pub – yes it is Mabel. Walter is very sad with his dog gone, but Kurt and Grace are happy that their new child is now also happy.

Dax is a slacker musician who has to take care of his sister’s dog Charlie. Dax slowly becomes attached to the shaggy mutt. But his apartment building does not allow dogs, so he needs to hide Charlie all the time. Also living at the same place is Tara (Vanessa Hudgens), who find s stray little Chihuahua dog with no name. She brings the pup to a no-kill shelter run by Garrett (Jon Bass) – who has secretly pined for Tara for ages. He names the dog Gertrude, for the author Gertrude Stein. But the shelter is having major problems, when the landlord decides to sell out and kick the tenants out.

But at the same time, Liz (Nina Dobrev) – a popular morning host on an L.A. TV program, has a sweet little mutt named Sam. Sam is sweeter than her boyfriend who is cheating on her. Liz gets new co-host on the program, and it is Jimmy (Tone Bell). He is an ex-football star with an older dog of own named Brandy. Brandy and Sam get along great, but it requires a little bit more time for Liz to warm up to Jimmy. Liz is so afraid to get her heart broken again; she feels that Jimmy might just be using her. But don’t worry, all of these seemingly unconnected plots will be brought together at the end…

But as things always go in these types of movies, the various groups get pulled together slowly. The romances grow and the new friends are there to always help. A little family gets bigger and the dogs have a way of making everyone chill out. The story line is busy with several plots and sub-plots all running together. Some are much more interesting than the others, so that weighs the movie down slightly. The director tries to make the various plot threads come together near the end, and tries to keep all the stories moving forward. It has some hiccups along the way, but it mostly works.

“Dog Days” is not a pure-bred, and not in the same league as “Love, Actually”. But for people who like romantic comedy movies — and they really like dogs — then “Dog Days’” is one that you might want to take for a walk around the block.

“Teen Titans Go! To the Movies” is nifty little animated production that shows you DC Comics can ‘extend their universe’ by creating a comical superhero movie. These smaller teenaged versions of superheroes can deliver a decent production with some pretty pointed jabs at the big boys (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, etc.). Based on the Cartoon Network animated show, this team of small fry heroes will grab a rung on the ladder that is the DC Franchise, and pull them selves up to the — well maybe not exactly to the top, but it will be close…

All the Teen Titans are led by a young Robin (Scott Menville), known mostly as Batman’s sidekick. But he is joined by other young kids with special powers. There is Beast Boy (Greg Cipes) who can transform into any type of wild beast or animal. There is Cyborg (Khary Payton) who a mechanical human with high-tech powers. Also part of the team are Raven (Tara Strong) who is a half-human, half-demon sorceress and also Starfire (Hynden Walch) – an alien Tamaranian princess with super-human powers. They all hang out together and wait to fight crime.

But because of their ages and size, the regular superheroes never give them much of a chance. The last straw for Robin is when he finds out all the other superheroes are getting their own movie. Even Batman’s butler is going to get a new movie! The producer and director of the big movies is Jade Wilson(Kristen Bell). They all attempt to persuade Wilson to get them into a movie. But she refuses, because they do not have super arch-nemesis. That is someone who is planning for an evil world-changing event – so if they find someone like that and stop that evil-doer, well then, maybe a movie would be in order. 

The next thing you know is that the Teen Titans cross paths with a major super villain who has a complex maniacal plan to rule the people of Earth. This fiend is none other than Deadp… opps, sorry – it just looks a lot like him – This fiend is none other than Slade (Will Arnett). Slade is going to brainwash the whole world into doing his bidding; causing mayhem in the street, robbing banks, disarming police stations, and picking him at the airport on short notice…

Jade Wilson then starts to make the movie about the Teen Titans. But wires get crossed and loyalties get tested. Wilson gets rid of team and only wants to work with and use Robin. But are there some underlying nefarious things that are going on? Is Slade somehow in involved to divide the Teen Titans team and get Robin to deliver some final piece of Slade’s ultimate Earth take-over plan… Will the Teen Titans be able to overcome any differences and unite to fight off a bad dude and prevent global chaos?

This movie is a light and breezy treat of DC Comics cotton candy, as opposed to the usual DCEU movies that are dark foreboding meals of burnt steak and thick ale. But it is more fun to see something fun, so this version could attract a decent audience beyond just kids and teenagers. However, there are plenty of fart and poop jokes. So that way you do not forget that the target is for kids and teenagers. The whole DC Universe is given a nice satirical look, and it evens gets a big NON-DC player into the act. (Enough with the cameos, Stan Lee!)

The voice acting is right on target, and the colors and images on screen are all very vivid. Most of the character voices are from the TV series, but a few big names are brought in. Kristen Bell does a good job with Jade Wilson, and Will Arnett is totally funny when he is voicing Slade. There is also a wonderful bit of trivia cameo. Back in the 80’s Nicolas Cage was considered for the role as Superman. But now, Cage does get a chance to lend his voice-over to get this done. Good job, Teen Titans! You have righted a wrong in this universe!