Movie Review: "Crazy Rich Asians" Is Familiar Yet Groundbreaking and Romantic As Hell

Crazy Rich Asians, the first major American movie in 25 years with an Asian cast, does not right all of Hollywood’s historical wrongs.

Even as a rom-com it falls a little short, not offering all that much ‘com’.

But it’s romantic as hell.

At a glance, director Jon M. Chu’s adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s bestselling book (part one of a trilogy, because everything is a franchise) is too conventional to incite any major cinematic revolutions.

If it had a white cast, it wouldn’t be remarkable at all. Except, it doesn’t, and that’s the point. With an all-Asian cast, in its Singaporean setting, a conventional rom-com becomes suddenly refreshing. It highlights a different collective of character actors and discovers new-ish faces. After decades of whitewashing—or outright silencing—diversity, the dreamy Crazy Rich Asians proves non-white actors and filmmakers can be just as cheerfully cheesy as their white counterparts. Audiences will swoon and see it in droves, and it’ll prove the business model (to only hire white talent) was wrong the whole time. And there’s your revolution.

That’s not to say Crazy Rich Asians simply plants an Asian cast into a "white" storyline. It is specific to its characters’ heritage; it just so happens that oftentimes traditions and family dynamics cross all kinds of racial boundaries, and no doubt anyone from an immigrant background will find much to relate to here.

The film stars Fresh off the Boat’s unstoppable comic force Constance Wu as Rachel Chu. She’s not really playing for laughs, but she gets to show off her sincerest dramatic chops as an American out-of-touch with her Chinese ancestry. She gets a crash-course of sorts when her boyfriend, Nick Young (an effortless Henry Golding), asks Rachel to go to a family wedding with him in Singapore. What she doesn’t discover until she arrives is that Nick’s family is wildly wealth. In fact, as her pal Peik Lin (Awkwafina) tells her, they aren’t just rich, they’re "crazy rich", like the good, title-clarifying rom-com BFF she is.

Awkwafina, a rapper-comedian whose husky voice frequently interrupted Bad Neighbours 2—for the better—and who provided the most laughs in Ocean’s 8 is sadly underutilised in this. Chu should have known the answer to "How much Awkwafina should be in this movie?" is always, "More Awkwafina."

The consolation is that Crazy Rich Asians has close to a dozen other fun bit-players, including Australia’s own Ronny Chieng as one of Nick’s despicable cousins; Silicon Valley’s Jimmy O. Yang, too briefly as an obnoxious groomsman; Ken Jeong, as a very on-brand father to Peik Lin; and, best of all, Nico Santos, as Nick’s gay cousin Oliver, who gives Rachel the contractually-obligated makeover, and makes hay with it.

It’s the other female stars who have to carry the dramatic heft of the film, which has been adapted by screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim with an emphasis on the dra-aaaaa-ma rather than comedy. The legendary Michelle Yeoh, as Nick’s disapproving mother Eleanor, delivers an unflinching and smartly staged speech to Rachel, whom she fears will tear her son away from his responsibilities in Singapore. And Gemma Chan, as Nick’s obscenely wealthy, uncommonly kind cousin Astrid, has her own marital issues unfolding, and though that B-plot is never particularly interesting, she gives it gravitas.

Dearth of Awkwafina aside, Chu gives all these actors—and more—their time in the sun, and they shine. His background is in Step Up movies and G.I. Joe Retaliation, and his eye for impeccable sheen is put to good use in this tale of opulent wealth, replete with mouth-watering street food and ornate couture. Everything and everyone looks great, all the time.

Crazy Rich Asians doesn’t otherwise break the mould, yet it’ll mean a lot to those who never see themselves represented onscreen. Not to say that Crazy Rich Asians captures the definitive 'Asian' experience. The class inequality on display isn’t exactly gargantuan. Nonetheless, it’s an immensely watchable movie that rings true more often than not. And everyone can enjoy the multilingual covers of "Material Girl", "Yellow" and other musical mainstays. Crazy Rich Asians is same, but different.

3.5/5

In Australian cinemas 30 August. Advanced screenings in select cinemas this weekend. Rated M for coarse language.