Crazy Rich Asians Review

     Cautiously optimistic is the perfect way to describe my expectations for Crazy Rich Asians. Good romantic comedies are not always easy to come by. However, if done right, they’re some of the best theatre-going experiences you can have. That being said, its synopsis peaked my interest. The trailer not so much. It looked very surface level without much else behind it. Something that you’d forget about minutes after walking out of the theatre. Then, the crazy good reviews started to pour in and my excitement level for it naturally rose. Again, the premise of Crazy Rich Asians really intrigued me so once the positive buzz started to flow in, it got me on board.

     The end result just about matches my tempered enthusiasm for this movie. It’s a mixed bag that offers a lot of good with some not so good as well. Looking at its strengths, it definitely packs a punch both stylistically and culturally. The cinematography isn’t anything too special but the way the title fonts were executed along with the soundtrack, give the film and old Hollywood type of vibe. It makes it feel like a true spectacle. That feeds right into Crazy Rich Asians living up to its potential to make a major cultural impact. It does nothing to have an all Asian cast in an ultimately forgettable result. The fact that director, Jon M. Chu, gave the film its own unique voice is the reason why this movie is being talked about. Between the success of this, Get Out, Black Panther, and many other recent offerings, Hollywood is sure to realize that what matters first and foremost is making a good movie. Audiences don’t care about who is in front of the camera as long as they get a compelling story. The sooner that gets communicated, the sooner we can expect a lot more diversity from both the talent behind these projects as well as the stories that studios are willing to take a chance on. We desperately need more interesting material(especially when it comes to the big-budget blockbusters). Aside from it delivering in that sense, Crazy Rich Asians is also a very enjoyable, funny romantic comedy. The movie is trying to be a love letter to Singapore and getting to see the landscapes of the city is definitely a major highlight. The extravagant set design and costuming all add to the opulence of it all. It’s overwhelming at times but that’s exactly what a premise like this demands. The casting also really shined through. As a viewer of Fresh Off the Boat, all I could think of in the trailer was the Jessica Huang character. Within 10 minutes, that completely went away and all the other actors suited their roles perfectly, especially Awkwafina and Ken Jeong. Whatever buzz you’re hearing about them is true. Those two plus the other members of their family provide Crazy Rich Asians with some of its funniest and most memorable moments.

     Underneath all the positives, the movie can’t quite escape being a surface-level romantic comedy. It’s an old car with a fresh coat of paint… an antiquated story with a different exterior shell. Although some may argue that this makes it more digestible and approachable to all audience members, I think it does the cast and crew a disservice. I wanted Crazy Rich Asians to be an all-out showcase of Asian culture and traditions. While at times it succeeds, it lacks and overall sense of depth. I wanted more complexity to the movie. Ultimately, it feels too familiar and it seems to shy away from the chance to be something completely fresh and new. In addition to underutilizing its most exciting and marketable element, the film never takes full advantage of its setting. There are some great aerial shots of Singapore but aside from those and a particularly memorable night market scene, it feels like the characters could have been put anywhere. It’s an overused analogy but I wanted Singapore to serve as its own character in the story.  

     Crazy Rich Asians takes all the appealing aspects of the run of the mill romantic comedy and makes them work. Unfortunately, it doesn’t really reach any farther beyond that. It’s a really entertaining premise that doesn’t quite reach its full potential. The great set up of it all makes it all the more disappointing. While I do think there’s a little more to the movie than you’re general romantic comedy, it doesn’t run with it quite far enough. Crazy Rich Asians is solid but its not the unforgettable extravaganza that I wanted and thought it might be.