Crazy Rich Asians

Tonight at work I watched “Crazy Rich Asians,” which came out 12 days ago, and now I will be telling everyone what I thought about it.

Peter Travers started his review out by saying, “In the guise of a bouncy romcom about insanely gorgeous rich kids enjoying their privileges, Crazy Rich Asians is making history: It’s the first Hollywood film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast. (The last one: 1993’s The Joy Luck Club.)” Singapore-born author Kevin Kwan said that he wrote the 2013 bestseller that the film adapted from “to introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience.” The adaptation, which is being labeled as the comedy to watch this summer, is giving it all in a hilarious, heartfelt enjoyment that wants to change the cultural representation in mainstream, complex-friendly cinema.

Constance Wu from “Fresh Off the Boat” brings so much acting skills to the role of Rachel, a Chinese NYU economics professor. Her history-teacher boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), invites her to come to Singapore with him for the wedding of his best friend, Colin Khoo (Chris Pang) to fashion star Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno). Raised by a single mother, played by Tan Kheng Hua, the modest Rachel has no idea that her boyfriend comes from old money and is informally known as the “Prince William of Asia.” Nick responds, “That’s ridiculous. I’m much more of a Harry.” She sees herself suddenly plunged in the lifestyles of the country’s rich and famous. Then we have Nick’s mom Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh), who tries to send this American away with the help of her son’s jealous ex-girlfriends (Jing Lusi).

Here start the culture clashes. Rachel’s lucky that the beautiful Astrid Leong-Teo (Gemma Chan), Nick’s cousin, sides with her, but she has her own problems with her proud husband (Pierre Png) who doesn’t want any part of her money. Thank goodness for Rachel’s college friend (and the movie’s comic relief) Goh Peik Lin, played by Awkwafina. Peik Lin won’t let Rachel to be beaten by Nick’s family. Travers said, “It all leads to a showdown between Rachel and Momma bear that brings out the alpha female in Rachel.” “Nasty,” says Peik Lin, in immersed respect.

Travers noted, “It’s a tribute to Yeoh’s layered performance that the film, directed by Jon M. Chu (Now You See Me 2, the Step Up franchise) from a script by Peter Chiarelli and Adele Li, refuses to demonize Eleanor.” Instead, we see that she went through the same thing with her husband’s mother, Shang Su Yi, played by Lisa Lu, letting the matriarch basically raise Nick so that he might one day take over her giant fortune. Travers said, “It’s the war between the bonds of family vs. the pull of wealth — a global theme across wide borders and cultures — that gives the film heft. But even when the script drifts into moralizing, it’s the emotions that hold sway.” People might cry as easily as laugh. For laughs, you can expect Ken Jeoung as Peik Lin’s rich dad and Jimmy O. Yang from “Silicon Valley” as Bernard, Nick’s crude college friend who throws Colin a bachelor party and makes a new low for lethal manhood.

Casting Golding, who’s half-white and half-Malaysian, has got some hairs, but the likable chemistry between the actor and Wu gives warmth to every noticeable spending. (Travers was funny when he said, “Even the Kardashians couldn’t keep up with this.) The film makes sure every extravagant detail pops, and some will probably dismiss this as a revel for shopaholics, consigned to being a guilty pleasure at best.” Why feel guilty around such tempting fun? Besides, if it scores for depiction, that’s so much better. Kwan wrote two sequel novels: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. You might walk out “Crazy Rich Asians” wanting the people to adapt both novels into movies as hilarious as this one.

In all honesty, I had never read the novel before I saw the movie. When I first heard the title, I thought it was going to be a bad comedy, as comedies nowadays don’t really work. However, when I saw how good the reviews were, I thought of checking this out. This film proved me wrong because I had such a fun time watching this, along with seeing some real drama that makes you feel sad for certain characters and mad at others. Definitely see this movie because you will love it, especially if you have read the novel. I can’t say how closely it follows the novel, because I never read it.

Look out this Friday for the conclusion of “The Muppets Month.”