Crazy Rich Asians

 CRAZY RICH ASIANS [2018]

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan

Story by Kevin Kwan & Direction by Jon M. Chu 

Language: English

Do you have a movie that you could never get sick of even after a million viewings? A comfort movie that you watch whenever you have a bad day? A movie that’s fun and easy to watch? It may not be a big award-winner, but for me, that movie was Crazy Rich Asians. I originally watched it in the cinema, and I still tear up whenever I see it. The messages of family and the contrast between Eastern and Western ideologies are so poignant: especially for me, an individual who has grown up in a relatively liberal place but has quite a traditional family. 

What makes the movie fun to watch are the visuals! I live vicariously through the opulence of all the fancy suits and dresses, the opulent jewellery, the dramatic staircases and all the magnificent houses. I had watched the movie after reading the book, and to see all of the little decorations and details replicated in such a big-budget Hollywood movie was so special for me. Seeing the sets come to life, especially the wedding scene, was magical. 

The acting, for the most part, was pretty good. However, some characters had very one-dimensional roles: and I still cannot tell whether that was due to the director’s intent or whether it was due to mediocre performances. Personally, I found that the book contained much more detail, and included events that were crucial in contributing to character development for certain individuals in the film. There is so much potential for character development, especially in a complex family setting like the one shown in the film. However, the fact that certain key moments were cut out meant that this potential was left ignored. There was only a conscious effort, in my opinion, to flesh out the characters of Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), Elanor Young (Michelle Yeoh), and Astrid Leong (Gemma Chan). 

I think that the stand out performances in this production were by Gemma Chan and Michelle Yeoh. Gemma Chan plays the role of a rich extended cousin, who is torn by her upbringing as a wealthy woman and her married life as a wife to a ‘common man’. She was able to relay tremendous grit within her role, and that made her a delight to watch on screen. If you watch the film, make sure you watch the final scene between her character and her husband: you won’t regret it. Michelle Yeoh was also phenomenal (well, she always has been). She played a convincing role as one of the matriarchs in the family who is torn between her role as a mother and her past experiences, which have hardened her. 

Overall, I really liked the movie! I will give it an 8/10 only because the screenplay cut out some crucial parts of the original story, parts which I really enjoyed reading in the novel.