Review of Crazy Rich Asians (2018) by Rebecca H — 15 Aug 2018

I'd given up on rom-coms. (Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston should be banned from the genre, let alone working together. ) But opening night, there I was - with my Asian-American husband, no less , watching Crazy Rich Asians, along with a packed theater audience on a Wednesday night. I haven't enjoyed a movie this much in years.

It's simultaneously a frothy treat that's a welcome antidote to the stress of daily life in such an uncertain time, and a wonderfully blatant rejection of the stereotypes and one-dimensional portrayals that have pervaded American, and Western, film for decades.

My husband noted the diverse representations of Asian people - as academics, business people, shop workers, heirs and heiresses, lawyers, and multi-generational wealthy people living a life and legacy most Americans he encounters assume only exist among white European families. In fact while the protrayal of attractive, sexually desirable Asian men is specifically being talked about as a key aspect of the film, my husband noted the fact that many Westerners have the image of Asian life equated to poverty, under-developed infrastructure, and primitive societal conditions that lead people to feel justified in being patronizing towards them. Seeing people who make Donald Trump look middle class, who are savvy businessmen and women, and are living enviable lives, was important to him to see represented as well.

But all that aside, what I loved most was the chemistry of th cast, and the fun, doesnt-take-itself-too-seriously nature of the film. The streetfood montage at the beginning had me wistful for Asia, and the tender moments between the impeccable Michelle Yeoh and Henry Golding ensured there was no over-simplistic tiger mom label you could slap on her motivations. Golding and Wu have wonderful chemistry, and Pang and Chan and Awkwafina are phenomenal. If Kwan would write a buddy movie just about Golding and Pang, I'd be there in a hearbeat!

We need more Asians represented in film, but I need more of THESE Asian actors in films, because they are such a joy to watch, and a refreshing break from the current crop of constantly recycled actors. No matter how good they are, or not. I'd take Golding in place of Leonardo di Caprio any day.

In fact, Golding is the first guy to come along that I think could take over the title George Clooney has held for so long, of being the last real movie star. I can't wait to see his next two films, and to watch his career launch into the stratosphere. Well-deserved.

This is a fun, delicious movie. It's not perfect, but it's si much better than anything Hollywood has put out lately in the genre, im thrilled to give it a 100% fresh rating. And, I might add, i'm going to see it again before it leaves theaters.