Review of Crazy Rich Asians (2018) by Auburnn — 16 Aug 2018

Don't get me wrong: i'm not saying I was disappointed. In the contrary, I was amused by this film. It's just an average romantic comedy. The production and cast are great. I recommend you guys who are rom com lovers to check out this movie.

If you just want to have fun (like I did), this movie totally worths it. In this review, I just want to take a closer look at the cultural significance. I'm just having a problem with the unreasonable script and the hype.

The Asian/Asian-American background is nothing but a background: I mean, the conflict between old money and new middle class can happen anytime anywhere, right? The funniest moment in this film happens when Rachel Chu claims herself as a poor immigrant "nobody" - if a young econ professor at NYU is a nobody then why do we normal people ever bother to live.

Besides, I know the movie exaggerates, but you tell me how is it possible for a poor immigrant from China to ever make it to the econ department at NYU. These settings distance the audience from an immigration experience, which should be universal, at least for some American immigrants from East Asia.

The presentation of Asian culture also seems suspicious. On the one hand, I appreciate the Asian accent, Chinese lyrics, dumplings, mah-jong, etc., which show respect for Asian culture. Specifically, the warmest part in this movie is when Rachel Chu and Nick Young eat street food after they arrive in Singapore.

For me, that part constitutes a most authentic living experience in Singapore, a developed Asian country yet filled with traditional Asian culture. On the other hand, some of the cultural symbols are too emphasized that it becomes creepy.

For instance, the dumpling part. I mean, literally no families in Asia would make dumplings in that luxurious an environment. No need to mention the depiction of the kitchen and epiphyllum - the production is trying too hard that it becomes exoticising.