Review: Crazy Rich Asians

Image courtesy of Warner Bros.

There is, in fact, a fair amount to recommend about Jon M. Chu's "Crazy Rich Asians," which is based on Kevin Kwan's book of the same name, even if the film itself only works part of the time. For starters, the picture is the first - at least, to my knowledge - Hollywood film featuring primarily Asian actors since Wayne Wang's "The Joy Luck Club" 25 years ago.

Secondly, the film has a great cast, from international star Michelle Yeoh and comedian Ken Jeong to rapper/comedian Awkwafina and Henry Golding as Nick Young, the film's love interest. The film's lead, Constance Wu, who portrays New York City economics teacher Rachel Chu, also slips easily into a starring role and does a nice job of it.

But my problem with "Crazy Rich Asians" is that its storyline - part "Cinderella," part "Pretty Woman" (but minus the prostitution) and part "Real Housewives" - is one that we've seen many times before. So many times before. In the film, Nick wants to introduce Rachel to his family in Singapore. Unbeknownst to her, they are among the island country's wealthiest inhabitants, and the mere mention of Nick's name to some of Rachel's friends elicits a gasp.

Throughout the film, we are called upon to cheer for Rachel, a lower to middle class American, and find Nick's super rich family and friends to be distasteful in their snobbery. And yet, the film appears to be taken with the bling - shots linger on mansions, gorgeous jewelry, expensive clothes and other luxuries. It's an example of a film that wants to have its cake and eat it too.

It helps that Wu is a sympathetic character, and that sidekick Awkwafina has enough punchy one liners to keep the material light and breezy. But there are one too many run-ins between Rachel and Yeoh's terror of a mother, Eleanor, Nick's jerky male family members and an ex-girlfriend of Rachel's beau who takes the hazing a little too far. It's the type of movie that draws gasps - and it did during the screening I attended - when the snooty rich characters behave rudely to Rachel, that is, if you've never seen a movie in which an underdog working class character gets the cold shoulder from rich people.

But for every cliche, there's an element that nearly makes up for it, whether it's the lovely cinematography that focuses on Singapore's beautiful scenery or the close-ups of food that are not only meant to make your mouth water, but also to explore ideas of tradition and culture. There's also a beautifully shot wedding scene that is also slightly far fetched.

Overall, "Crazy Rich Asians" is a fairly lightweight amusement, but it's notable for focusing solely on its Asian characters, rather than shoving them into the type of supporting roles that Jeong, Awkwafina, Yeoh and other cast members typically inhabit. It might lose points for a story that is more tried than true, but it has its moments. And during the moments when it digs a little deeper in exploring issues pertaining to the class differences of its characters, the film is at its best, even if it occasionally lingers too long to admire its characters' riches.