"Crazy" good movie

Rating: 3.5/4If you find Henry Golding to be hot and Awkwafina to be hilarious (which everyone should), this is the movie for you. “Crazy Rich Asians”, released on Aug. 15, proves to not only be an entertaining, heartfelt rom-com, but also a huge step for Asian representation in American movies. The film opens on a common picture of two people in love in New York: Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) and Nick Young (Henry Golding). This classic story gets more interesting stakes when Rachel discovers that not only is Nick rich, he is “crazy rich.” As the crazy rich life he left behind is revealed to Rachel during their trip to Singapore for Nick’s best friend’s wedding, she begins to understand that she doesn’t quite fit in — at least, not according to Nick’s family, especially his mother. The creators of this movie, such as director Jon Chu, could’ve stopped at just making a romantic comedy with an all Asian cast, which still would’ve been a landmark achievement for diversity in Hollywood. Instead, they decided to look deeper into many existing stereotypes and prejudices, such as the divide between Asians and Asian-Americans. While the plot does not go as in-depth as the original Kevin Kwan novel, it still pushes the boundaries to discuss important issues. Besides starring powerhouse leads like Michelle Yeoh and Wu, “Crazy Rich Asians” also delivers an incredible supporting cast, with the likes of Ken Jeong, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Ronny Chieng and Nico Santos. Even though the movie tends to strongly divide between dramatic and comedic characters, the two groups balance each other out into a strong overall dialogue. The slight flaws of “Crazy Rich Asians” are definitely corrected by the sleek, entertaining package it is delivered in. Do yourself a favor and see this movie.