Review of Crazy Rich Asians (2018) by Jason W — 23 Sep 2018

There are decisive factors that persuades frequent spectatorship into certain moviegoing experiences from genres to studio and directorial craft. Story is another, but the sole factor itself is the main one for most films with the anticipation level being bolstered by accessible interest, especially when instead gets sorted into a waitlist for a home viewing since a story is a story with a measured scale that's probably better worth for a rental ticket. Films tend to refute that, even though it can only be seen to agree. That is the kind of case "Crazy Rich Asians" turned out to be, a cross social culture rom-com that has rejuvenated the genre when it has demonstrated what viewing an exotic film is like.

Based on a book by Kevin Kwan, the story follows New Yorker Rachel Chu's relationship with Nick Young being tested when he takes her as his plus one to his best friend's wedding in Singapore, which gives her the chance to meet his family. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family is one of the country's wealthiest, and that luggage labels him as one of its most followed bachelors. Finally getting to know the side of Nick he distanced himself from, she gets thrown into the hidden mess by being targeted by jealous socialites and beginning to lose her confidence in their love when being dragged down by his controlling mother's disapproving attitude.

Romantic comedies has an overused formula that spices the romance(s) towards predictability with the acting of the melodrama being minimally little to occasionally ridiculous. "Crazy Rich Asians" seems to might have followed that familiar routine but with a perfect charismatic soul as a lovely heart that may be difficult to reach in succeeding replication, hence the rejuvenation. It has taken the characterization's human drama and romance to be attached in captivation on the direction of the relationships, which is an act of actually caring for the characters. What made that possible is the majority Asian American casting performing with perfect energy and charisma that seek out the heart to fully blossomed, particularly the main pair Constance Wu and Henry Golding alongside Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan and especially Awkwafina in a comedic breakout role.

Jon M. Chu's direction is probably his best out of his moderate sized filmography when balancing between the soulfully-performed heart and the striking production designs, defining an exotic film with composer Brian Tyler's scoring further enriching the heart. Aside from the overall elegancy and perfectly-done efforts, the narrative structure seems like an essay on the line of "money can't buy happiness" when focusing Rachel and Nick's relationship on proving that normal, earned happiness triumphs over wealth. That was showcased in another parallel as a subplot for Nick's cousin Astrid to show the alternative "what-if" as an attempt to express the meaningful loyalty the main romance is built with. With that being pointed out, it could either be further proof that this film rejuvenated the genre or uncovered an aspect that wasn't noticeable till now as a study for the genre.

May not have read the literature trilogy, but the impressive, culturally heartening, talented perfection that "Crazy Rich Asians" turned out to be could be another case of film adaptation over source material. The film itself is wonderfully entertaining by its humanistic soul, which makes it one of the best rom-coms there is. There's enough anticipation towards the next chapter to see this very collaboration again in action. (A-).