Soooo, I don’t know if you’ve seen the BEST rom-com of 2018 yet, but Crazy Rich Asians is it. Honestly, this film is worth the hype. Sometimes those films that critics and audiences love are really just boring or cheesy—especially rom-coms—and I have to say that that is not the case with this super fun and adorable flick. I have seen my fair share of rom-coms, and most of the so-called “classics” are just obnoxious snooze fests. Part of the reason I think we don’t see that many rom-coms these days is because the formula was just so worn out by its predictability and lack of heart. This film is not one of those.
This rom-com begins with the couple, NYU professors, Rachel (Constance Wu) and Nick (Henry Golding), having already been together for a year [thank goodness, we don’t have witness another unbearable cute-meet]. Nick invites Rachel to go with him to his family’s home in Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. No more than a minute after inviting her, all of Nick’s relatives and friends know that Rachel will be going to the wedding. Why? Well, apparently word gets around when you’re the son of one of the wealthiest families in Singapore.
The twist is: Rachel doesn’t know that her boyfriend isn’t just a professor at NYU. Honestly, it seems a bit odd that after a year of dating that he wouldn’t have said anything about how rich his family was or that she didn’t find out, but what do I know?! Anyways, Rachel begins to realize Nick’s wealth when they’re plain tickets are first class, but Nick brushes this off with my family is “comfortable.” She doesn’t truly know the extent of his wealth until she meets up with college bestie Goh (Awkwafina) who gasps at the realization that Rachel’s Nick is Nick Young, son of one of wealthiest people in Singapore.
You would think that finding out Nick is basically a prince would be the whole film, but it’s not. Rachel has to experience a lot of BS before the film concludes. For instance, Nick is way too modest about his family’s wealth; Nick’s mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) disproves of her son’s relationship with a “foreign” woman; and all of Nick’s prospect bachelorettes play heartless games with Rachel.
By the end, Rachel has been tested and tried all because she is not what the people in Nick’s life thinks is sophisticated and right for someone of Nick’s status. Rachel stays true to herself throughout, however, showing that you don’t have to be a sell-out. In fact, she dumps Nick, who doesn’t seem to fully understand the extent of what his friends and family have put her through. No need to cry that this fairy-tale princess story doesn’t have a happy ending because it does: Nick proposes to Rachel again, this time with his mother’s ring. Maybe Eleanor doesn’t really approve of her son marrying an outsider, but she does respect Rachel’s integrity.
There are definitely some cliché scenes in this flick, but they are for the most part super fun and nicely done. Overall, I’m a huge fan and am looking forward to the proposed sequel.
RATING: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Let me know what you thought of Crazy Rich Asians in the comments! I look forward to reading them.
THE FILM ALIEN 