For Richer? Or For Poorer?

Title – Crazy Rich Asians
Certificate – 12A
Director – Jon M. Chu
Writers – Peter Chiarelli & Adele Lim (Screenplay), Kevin Kwan (Based on the novel by)
Cast – Constance Wu (Rachel Chu), Henry Golding (Nick Young), Michelle Yeoh (Eleanor Young), Awkwafina (Peik Lin Goh)
Plot – This contemporary romantic comedy, based on a global bestseller, follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend’s family.

So I always use the plot taken from IMDb to populate the above, but that doesn’t do this film any justice at all.

What this film revolves around is Rachel is a Chinese American, a master of Economics, who has been dating Nick Young for around a year without ever knowing he was the heir to a huge Dynasty back in Singapore. The reason he hasn’t told her is that his family are pretty clear that they do not like outsiders. This is where the whole film lies, in that “fish out of water” tale of Rachel trying to be accepted by his family and struggling massively.

Michelle Yeoh as Nick’s disapproving mother is both sincere yet scheming at all times. She doesn’t want this girl from America to come into the family and clearly makes her feelings known.

Then there’s Rachel’s old college friend Peik Lin Goh, who, along with her whole family, provide almost all the movie’s comedy moments…and there’s a fair few scattered around there.

At it’s heart, its a love story, which is what I expect the original novel is in it’s entirety, but with that spattering of laughs, it keeps it grounded and well rounded.

I enjoyed it. It did feel a tad long towards the end, but with everything from comedy, to romance, to some spectacular shots of Singapore which really made me fancy holidaying there, there was enough to keep me entertained.

3.5/5