In the guise of a bouncy romcom about insanely gorgeous rich kids enjoying their privileges, Crazy Rich Asians is making history: Its the first Hollywood film in 25 years to feature an all-Asian cast. (The last one: 1993s The Joy Luck Club.) Singapore-born author Kevin Kwan has said that he wrote the 2013 bestseller on which the film is based to introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience. Now the film version, which is shaping up as the comedy to see this summer, is bringing it all home in a hilarious, heartfelt blast that aims to change the state of cultural representation in mainstream, multiplex-friendly cinema.
Constance Wu she of Fresh Off the Boat fame brings a burst of star power 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 icon Araminta Lee (Sonoya Mizuno, wonderful). Raised by a single mother (Tan Kheng Hua), the humble Rachel has no idea that her beau comes from old money and is colloquially known as the Prince William of Asia. To which Nick responds, Thats ridiculous. Im much more of a Harry. She finds herself suddenly immersed in the lifestyles of the regions rich and famous. And then theres Nicks mom Eleanor (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragons iconic Michelle Yeoh), who tries to send this commoner packing with the help of her sons jealous ex hookups.
The 'Best Popular Movie' Oscar: WTF Is the Academy Thinking?Summer Movie Preview 2018: From 'Infinity War' to 'BlacKkKlansman''A Charlie Brown Christmas': The Making of a Classic SoundtrackHow Americana Went Mainstream in the 2010s
Bring on the culture clashes! Its lucky for Rachel that the beauteous Astrid Leong-Teo (Gemma Chan), Nicks cousin, takes her side though she has her own problems dealing with a proud husband who doesnt want any part of her wealth. And thank god for Rachels college friend (and the movies secret weapon) Goh Peik Lin, played by rapper-turned-actress and a comic tornado that is Awkwafina (Oceans 8). Peik Lin wont allow her best friend to be blocked by Nicks family; it all leads to a showdown between Rachel and Momma bear that brings out the alpha female in Rachel. Nasty, says Peik Lin, in rapt admiration.
Its a tribute to Yeohs 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 suffered a similar indignity at the hands of her husbands mother, Shang Su Yi (Lisa Lu), letting the matriarch practically raise Nick so that he might one day inherit her enormous fortune. Its 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, its the emotions that hold sway. Expect tears to flow as easily as laughs. And for giggles, you cant beat Ken Jeoung as Peik Lins new-money dad and Jimmy O. Yang (Silicon Valley) as Bernard, Nicks raunchy college buddy who throws Colin a bachelor party and sets a new low for toxic masculinity.
The casting of Golding, whos half-white and half-Malaysian, has raised some hackles, but the appealing chemistry between the actor and Wu adds warmth to all the conspicuous consumption. (Even the Kardashians couldnt keep up with this.) The film makes sure every extravagant detail pops, and some will probably dismiss this as an orgy for shopaholics, consigned to being a guilty pleasure at best. But why feel guilty around such irresistible fun? And if its also a win for representation, so much the better. Kwan wrote two followup novels: China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems. You leave Crazy Rich Asians wanting to see them both made into movies as pointedly entertaining as this one.
Posting Komentar
Posting Komentar