Predictable but lots of fun too

FILM REVIEW:

CRAZY RICH ASIANS (12A)

SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW

CAST: CONSTANCE WU, HENRY GOLDING, MICHELLE YEOH, GEMMA CHAN, LISA LU, AWKWAFINA, HARRY SHUM JR, KEN JEONG, SONOYA MIZUNO & CHRIS PANG

RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 42 MINS

DIRECTOR: JOHN M CHU

The well-overdue major Hollywood studio film with a Westernised Asian ensemble! It’s no surprise that Crazy Rich Asians is about Asians that are ‘rich’ and ‘crazy’. There is, of course, a lot more to say about this film.

First things first... it is based on Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel of the same name – which tells the story of Rachel Chu, a helpless romantic in love with a charming man named Nick Young. He then invites her to join him on a trip to Singapore for his best friend Colin’s wedding and she accepts.

It’s when the couple end up flying first class that Rachel discovers Nick is rich. Crazy rich. This is a far cry from her own life. She was raised by a single mother who emigrated from mainland China to New York City. Will the super-rich family accept someone so different into their circle?

Surprise, surprise... no they don’t!

Rachel is played by the elegant girl next door, Constance Wu (The Lego Ninjago Movie) – with Nick being played by Henry Golding (soon to be seen in this weekend’s forthcoming release A Simple Favour). I was invested into this couple from the very beginning. Despite their differences, we believe that they are very much in love – it’s your classic Cinderella story retold.

The standout performance is Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) though, who plays Nick’s unaccepting and often-scary mother. She plays the part phenomenally.

This is surprisingly the first Asian lead Hollywood studio picture since 1993’s The Joy Luck Club – and after this extremely well-received movie (plus the book being the first of a trilogy) I doubt we’ll be waiting as long for another.

Particularly as this has been a Number One box-office sensation the other side of the pond.

In conclusion, there is nothing we haven’t seen here before. It’s your typical fish out of water narrative arc. But despite it being predictable, I had a lot of fun nonetheless. There’s no major conflict and some may find it a little too sweet to swallow – whereas others will love the gooeyness.

And if that’s your bag you’ll feel enriched with this romantic yarn.

Rating: 3.5/5 - Mikey Clarke