'Crazy Rich Asians' A Review

Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy about NYU economics professor Rachel Chu(Constance Wu) and her boyfriend Nick Young(Henry Golding) who asks her to go to Singapore with him for a wedding and meet his family. Unbeknownst to Rachel, Nick is the heir to a family owned and operated massive real estate corporation. As Nick attempts to introduce and bring Rachel into the circle of his friends and family there's a clash both cultural and economic which threatens their relationship.

Wu plays an excellent everywoman and brings her considerable magnetism to bear with grace, relatability, humor, and an effortlessness that is not only engaging but begs for future leads. Golding plays this version of Prince Charming with standard panache but also a unique sensitivity and empathy that the archetype doesn't typically exhibit. Their chemistry is casual, fluid, and appealing, above all their relationship and how they interact is believable and although there is a formulaic turn at one point how both of the characters react is not. The other stand out is Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor, Nick's domineering mother, the screenplay and her performance give the role more dimension and nuance than is usually given to the "overbearing" parent. The supporting cast is thick with big comedic turns and more straightforward performances that really bring it to life.

Although a somewhat conventional narrative at first glance both the all-Asian cast and the Singapore setting reenergize a genre that can be all too predictable. And as a showcase of Asian faces and culture there is something contagiously celebratory about the entire film. The message is universal, it's about finding out who you are, about evolving, and finding your place. It's appeal is international. The setting is beautiful, the costuming is superb, and the although not a musical the score(and the fun, upbeat, pointed performances) makes it seem like it could be.

A feel-good, beautiful, romantic adventure.

See It.