Despite presenting a fairly conventional Jane Austen style premise in its depiction of love and social standing, what really makes Jon M. Chu’s new romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians into something more than just a piece of froth, is the fact that it is the first major studio production since The Joy Luck Club (Wayne Wang, 1993) to feature Asian protagonists in every single lead role. Which is something of a coup, especially if one considers that, according to recent statistics, out the 100 top-grossing Hollywood movies of 2017, only four featured an Asian character.
Adapted from Kevin Kwan’s best selling 2013 novel of the same name, Crazy Rich Asians is every bit as opulent and as bonkers as it sounds, and if that wasn’t enough, throw in a good dose of motherly-guilt and condescending familial disapproval for good measure. All of which makes this into one of the most universal stories you are likely to come across this year, even if the film itself is slightly let down by a flimsily executed screenplay.
Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is a bright young Chinese American economics professor from a humble background who, even after a year of dating the handsome Nick Young (Henry Golding), has yet to meet any members of his family back in Singapore. When the occasion presents itself for the couple to travel back to Nick’s home country for a family wedding, Rachel is shocked to discover that Nick has been hiding a big secret from her by failing to mention that he is the son of one of the wealthiest families in Asia.
Trouble flares, when Rachel finally meets Nick’s mother Eleanor (played to perfection by the inimitable Michelle Yeoh), a beautifully turned-out matriarch dripping in designer clothes, who has no intentions of letting her son marry beneath his class. Soon Rachel finds herself fending off personal attacks from the members of a close-knit Singaporean high society who all see her as an unsuitable choice for their golden boy. Luckily for Rachel, her rich college friend Peik Lin (played with raucous hilarity by comedian Awkwafina) is at hand to help fend off the naysayers and teach her how to beat them at their own game.
Constance Wu gives a hugely likeable turn in a role which sadly demands very little of her. And for his part, British Malaysian actor Henry Golding offers a passable, if a little stilted performance as Nick.
Director Jon M. Chu offers a fairly accurate adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s novel, by presenting new Asian money as both superficial and deeply traditional. But where things don’t often quite hit the mark is in the film’s inability to be as funny as it ought to be. And while most of the genuine laughs come from the hugely likeable Awkwafina, the rest of the gags are sadly squandered on clichés, slapstick and unfunny jokes. Perhaps not a perfect rom-com, but still one which is groundbreaking enough to make us stand up and take note.
