It is hard to resist a good love story. The nice thing about John M. Chu’s “Crazy Rich Asians” is that it begins with its two stars happily together, saving viewers the anxious experience of watching them struggle and finally end up together. Sound too good to be true? Do not worry; conflict is in store.
At face value, this movie’s core struggle sets our beloved, independent, open-minded Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) against her boyfriend Nick’s (Henry Golding) evil mother, the spiteful and ignorant Eleanor Young (Michelle Yeoh). However, things are not that simple, and the clashing of these women represents a deeper theme: the conflict between individual dreams and love for family. It is the idea that American culture champions the pursuit of passion in life, while more traditional cultures promote the sacrifice of personal enjoyment for loyalty and duty to a greater cause. The viewer should not be too quick to judge Eleanor and her beliefs, as this movie may serve to challenge assumptions made about the role our culture plays in goal-setting.
Another theme that stands out is the importance of image. The element of spectacle is huge in “Crazy Rich Asians.” In one truly visually magnificent wedding, along with the parties that build up to it, it is evident that everyone has gone all-out to look the insanely wealthy part. Sleekness and color are observed everywhere, especially in the way people dress. Throughout the movie, image is cherished and tailored as a part of personal identity. There is one scene where, in an effort to stand up to Eleanor, Rachel pulls out the big guns and gets a beauty makeover from her enthusiastic designer friends. On one hand, that could seem pretty shallow, but on the other, it is simply part of the culture that this film is conveying. Even with the obsession of being posh and chic as a backdrop, the characters have real motivations and stories that promote real empathy.
There is also something to be said for this film’s effective contribution to progress towards more diverse screen representation.
Spoiler alert: there is a reason it isn’t called “Crazy Rich Caucasians.” The talented cast features a wonderful number of refreshingly new faces.
“Crazy Rich Asians” is an 8 out of 10 movie. Its splendor and sparkle can be a little overstimulating at times, enough to distract from some of the film’s less formulaic qualities.
Nonetheless, those qualities express redeeming energy and insight that can be difficult to find in many neighboring rom-coms.
It is an overall charming movie, and it provides a fresh window into Asian American and crazy rich Singaporean culture. Whether you favor the rom-com genre or not, this is worth watching.
