“Perfection comes at a sacrifice.” ―
Asians, what about them? How extravagant could a life of an Asian be?
Kevin Kwan, writer of the novel, Crazy Rich Asians, has yet wowed the whole globe with the film adaptation of his book. The film adaptation is directed by Jon M. Chu and has worked closely with Kevin Kwan. The film has broke some records for being the first Asian film to get a Hollywood premiere in 25 years (Look at that, yeah?) and this might be the best All Asian Cast movie in all the films showcased in Hollywood and in the world. (For me.)
The title says it all, Crazy, Rich and Asians, how hard can that be? Even the review is all crazy, I know, we should be living up for that title because this is the most detailed review I’ve ever made in my life. (C’mon, I’ve got lots of headlines here, people!)
So let’s start the wonderroanne moview (Movie Review), however, by reading this blog, means you are entering both book and film spoilers so, like what I always say, read at your own risk, ‘coz I’m not gonna censor any scenes or lines. I’m gonna put all the cards on the table, y’all.
Crazy Rich Asian is a story about Rachel Chu, a NYU professor, who will be accompanying her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young, in Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. However, Rachel is not aware of his boyfriend’s family status and will discover that Nick’s family is one of the wealthiest families in Singapore and her arm-candy is considered as one of Singapore’s most eligible bachelors.
With Rachel, the center of all the talks, she must face not only Nick’s rich family but also the nosy jealous socialites, the whole Singapore and worst of them all is Nick’s mother.
Going down to the film review, of course, first in our list will be the ALL ASIAN CASTS, plus their epic roles in the film.
Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, who is well known as Jessica Huang in the Comedy TV series, Fresh Off the Boat and later on starred in the film, The Feels. With her playing as Rachel Chu, I have no words aside from EXCELLENT. She played the role elegantly, although I was looking for a little accent, because I was expecting Rachel to have just a little of the accent, but all in all, she was great.
Nick Young, played by the ever documentary hottie, Henry Golding. He is well known for The Travel Show by BBC. Although his background didn’t quite add the authenticity of playing a Singaporean because Henry is a Brit-Malaysian born. But with the whole macho-geek thing happening, Henry played Nick so delicately effective because, yes, I kind of pictured him as the Oxford-grad, history professor and at the same time, an heir of his family’s wealth. (Such a hottie, who can say no?)
Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor Young, the mother of Nick Young. Michelle is a well-known action star in Hong Kong and now, playing the ever-protective mother of Nick, I’d say she nailed it! She got that fierce and scary looking eyes that I’d hate but at the same the time I would love if I’m Rachel Chu.
Who would forget Awkwafina who is playing as Goh Peik Lin, who was tagged later in the movie by her father as the Asian Ellen DeGeneres. She was funny, although I didn’t expect her to be that funny when I was still reading the novel. Awkwafina added a whole new comedy vibe in the movie. Funniest moment I remembered was when she had all those emergency outfits in her trunk. I mean, such a fashionista amidst that quirky and funny character. Well, with her status as a comedian and rapper, she definitely gave justice to the character. You might have seen her in the movie Ocean’s 8.
Astrid Leong, played by Gemma Chan, who is a star in AMC TV series, Humans. Astrid has a whole lot of story going on in the movie and with Gemma, playing her, I feel like the whole definition of classy and fashionable is there. (Knowing Gemma is one of the most fashionable IT Girls in the social media…yeah.) The story of Astrid is a bit short in the film compare to the book, however, it was adapted firmly or should I say, it has justified whatever Kevin Kwan had envisioned Astrid in reality.
And one of the most talked about character is, Princess Intan, played by our very own Queen of Multimedia (Philippines), Ms. Kris Aquino. I should say, Kevin Kwan made sure that Kris Aquino will get a spot and by getting a spot means creating a brand new character that best suits her. And everyone in the Philippines are actually waiting for it.
I mean, Princess Intan, as a snobbish Malay princess, she played a significant role in the movie, making Rachel Chu’s image a little stand out from everyone even after Eleanor ignored her and refused to be seated with her. (Of course, girl, you need that! Who else is going to speak to the snobbish princess aside from Rachel, right? The Cinderella in the movie.)
And addition to the casts are;
Tan Kheng Hua as Kerry Chu, Rachel’s mother.
Lisa Lu as Shang Su Yi (Ah Ma), Nick’s grandmother.
Ken Jeong as Goh Wye Mun and Koh Chieng Mun as Neena Goh, Piek Lin’s parents.
Nico Santos as Oliver T’sien, Nick’s all out fashionista cousin.
Pierre Png as Michael Teo, Astrid’s husband.
Chris Pang as Colin Khoo, Nick’s best friend.
Sonoya Mizuno as Araminta Lee, Colin’s bride to be.
Jing Lusi as Amanda Ling, Nick’s ex girlfriend from high school.
As a film adaptation of a best selling novel, I’m very sure that all the bookworms who have read the book itself are actually ringing the bells for a film and movie comparison and that’s what we will do. I have actually the list of the most obvious changed that has been made in the movie. (Of course, we cannot blame them, how can you compressed a novel into a 2 hour film? I doubt it. But well, as a reader, we need details and details.)
- In the film, Eleanor Young was the one who bought the hotel in London but in the novel, it was Astrid’s mother, Felicity Leong, who did that “I can buy everything I wanted” scene. (It was epic and deserves a yaaas queen reaction!)
- I wasn’t convinced in the film that Rachel Chu is a successful Economics professor, which was mentioned specifically in the novel. I was waiting for a whip that ass lecture from her but instead, they showed how good is Rachel in poker game and mahjong which basically had a connection in the whole film but I’m not complaining at all.
- In the film, everyone knows who Nick is and how much his net worth actually is. Rachel surprisingly discovered the family status of Nick through the Goh family. However in the novel, no one knows about the wealth of the Youngs because they are so careful on unraveling their wealth to the public. The secrecy they give their family is their secret.
- Rachel and Nick are out for the spring break in the film, however, in the novel, they went in Singapore during summer and they went to Malaysia as well.
- The Young Family Tree is just as crazy as those Asians. If you read the book, you’ll see the Youngs complete family tree which was totally detailed, however, in the movie, we just saw some of Nick’s cousins. (Well, I’m talking about the Shangs, who were my favorite, but they don’t actually show in the story until the second book but still…you know, a little intro won’t hurt.)
- Astrid’s story is a little shortened in the movie because in the novel, Astrid learned that Michael is having an affair and she did everything to find out who it was (Including asking help from her ex fiance) and then, later on, she discovers that Michael didn’t actually cheat on Astrid, he just made her think that he cheated because he cannot stand the pressure of staying married to a wealthy wife and his insecure ass.
- In the book, the bachelor party is way extravagant. In the movie, they made it look like they are really crazy, by getting into a chopper and a ship full of ladies in bikinis and booze, but in the novel, they actually went to Macau, having that stag party; dog fights, booze, drugs and hookers. Although same thing happened in both film and novel, it was a fail and Nick escaped from the hellfire. (In the book, Nick walked out on the party with other friends, not only Colin.)
- Eleanor didn’t get to meet Rachel that much in the book compared to the film and I think they only met at the mid end part of the book. She wasn’t in the party as well because she was in China. In the movie, they met immediately and got all the tensions fast forwarded.
- Astrid wasn’t the one who helped Rachel with that dead fish drama at Araminta’s bachelorette party; In the book, it was Sophie, Colin’s sister. And the person who became mean in the book was mainly, Francesca, who happens to reveal that she, Mandy and Nick had threesome in the past. (All those things are in the book, people! you should read it!)
- Peik Lin didn’t attend the party in the book! I know, so much for the emergency outfits she had in the film but I guess that’s one change they made that created the iconic scene for Peik Lin.
- Nick’s dad was a no-show in the film because of business but in the novel, he actually met Rachel and I think, he’s the only one who approved of Rachel the most, aside from Nick’s aunt Victoria (who was also not in the film.)
- In the film, Ah Ma’s (Nick’s grandmother) invited Rachel for dumpling-making with the whole family but in the book, well, they made scones (British scones, I know.) not dumplings (Prolly, they made that to look more asian af.)
- In the film, Nick proposed to Rachel in Singapore but in the book, the proposal happened in Malaysia during a family getaway, however it was interrupted by Eleanor and Ah Ma by revealing the truth about Rachel’s father. Rachel then tries to fly to China to see who her father really is but before she did, her mother told her the truth that her father is actually her mother’s very close friend and that prevented her from flying and meeting a man in jail who happens to be the one who made her mother’s life miserable. In the film, they fat forwarded that by her mom revealing everything and Rachel being so nice about it.
- In the book, Nick proposed to Rachel once and he was rejected. But in the film, he proposed two times! And one thing they didn’t show is how Nick was devastated by being rejected by Rachel. They only showed how messed up Rachel was but in the book, Nick was far worse than her. (That was my favorite scene in the book, btw.)
- The book ended by Nick and Rachel getting something to eat and with a hanging question which were answered on the second and third books of Kevin Kwan. However, in the film, being a rom-com film, (we better give the viewers whatever they want) Nick showed up in the plane (Oh, so cliche but effective!) and proposed again to Rachel with the emerald ring of Eleanor which gladly made all the viewers bawl and that includes me! (It was a big sign, saying that Eleanor has approved the whole idea of Nick marrying Rachel!) All they stayed in Singapore for an extravagant engagement party!
In all fairness, the movie is your closest thing on picturing how all the characters look like in reality, if given a chance you will see them in real life.
Since the book is 500+ pages, I wouldn’t be surprised that they compressed everything just to make a film out of it. The important things mentioned in the book were there, especially the Asian traditions when it comes to marriage and how important family ties is to most Asian household.
I’m not gonna complain, the movie is fantastic, with a little expectations from my part, I’d say it’s perfect for everyone to watch. Hell, you will finally know how crazy Asians are. This film is going to change all those stereotypical opinions of non-Asian people have against us, Asians.
I’m gonna give this movie, a 90% wonderroanne rating!
One fun fact though, not all the places in the film were actually located in Singapore, some of them are located in Malaysia, including Tyersall Park.
PS. I’m in love with Singapore (I keep visiting it every year) and so, watching the movie is such a priceless moment for me, it made me want to go back again there next year. Gah! I was just there two weeks ago. ♥
Wonder Roanne 