Could you imagine dating someone for an entire year and then suddenly discovering that your significant other has been hiding major details about himself for fear of judgement? That’s exactly what happens to Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), the protagonist of the 2018 film “Crazy Rich Asians.” When Rachel’s boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), invites her to meet his parents, she finds out that Nick comes from the wealthiest family in Singapore.
Completely oblivious to Nick’s fame and social standing in Asia, Rachel travels all the way from New York City to meet his large extended family, which consists of overbearing grandmothers, even harsher mothers, and money-obsessed siblings. As one of Rachel’s friends says in the movie, “[Nick] is like the Prince William of Asia,” implying that he is Singapore’s most eligible bachelor, much to Rachel’s disbelief and confusion.
Essentially, Rachel unknowingly saunters into Singapore with a giant target on her back because every single woman is vying for Nick’s love and attention, despite the fact that he remains genuinely devoted to Rachel. Although this storyline might sound like the typical structure where a girl’s life revolves around a boy, “Crazy Rich Asians” undermines such stereotypes, and in the end, it is ultimately Rachel who decides her future.
I was invited to an early screening of “Crazy Rich Asians” at the London Hotel in West Hollywood last week, and it was a particularly special event because the movie is the first film released by a major studio that focuses on Asian-Americans in over 25 years. Adapted from the best-selling novel by Kevin Kwan, “Crazy Rich Asians” also boasts an all-Asian cast. Additionally, the movie was directed by John M. Chu and co-written by Adele Lim, both of whom share Asian descent.
Prior to attending the screening, I had seen the trailer a few times in theaters, and “Crazy Rich Asians” seemed like the ideal summer rom-com. Even though I definitely found the overall storyline to be heartwarming and humorous, I was slightly disappointed leaving the theater, mainly because I was hoping for a less predictable ending. However, the acting was solid, and it was refreshing to see new faces on screen; Henry Golding was particularly charming in his portrayal of Nick Young.
Ken Jeong also makes a fantastic appearance in the film as Rachel’s best friend’s father, who, like everyone else in Singapore, idolizes the Young family. His comedic timing is impeccable, and his facial expressions definitely garnered the most laughs in the theater. I don’t want to reveal too much more, but generally, I would recommend seeing “Crazy Rich Asians” for a few particularly funny scenes in the film, most of which include Ken Jeong.
Despite the fact that the movie didn’t quite meet my expectations overall, the screening was such a fun, energetic environment to be in, largely because the cast and crew began the evening by talking passionately about the film they created. I also really admire Chu’s directorial vision, as well as the fact that an Asian-centered narrative is being shown in theaters all over the world. Hopefully, as time passes, films focused on racial minorities will become more mainstream.
I, for one, will be buying several tickets when it is released in a few weeks, as “Crazy Rich Asians” marks remarkable progress for Asian representation in the entertainment industry, and I want to support this movie in any way that I can.
“Crazy Rich Asians” is an entertaining movie worth seeing if you’re craving a cheerful film this summer. The movie will officially be released in theaters on August 15th, and the movie is rated PG-13 for language and suggestive references.
Featured image source: “Crazy Rich Asians” official website.