What happens when you mix insanity, wealth, and a full Asian cast? Well, Crazy Rich Asians, of course. The 2018 hit movie based on the bestseller trilogy by Kevin Kwan is making history in Hollywood with the first all Asian cast in 25 years.
The dramatic romantic comedy starts with Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a native New Yorker and a professor at NYU, and her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding), who wants to take Rachel back home to Singapore for his best friend’s wedding and introduce her to his family. Little does Rachel know that Nick didn’t mention that his family is the richest in all of Singapore, but also the most prestigious and has a title to uphold.
When Rachel meets Nick’s mom, Eleanor Sung-Young (Michelle Yeoh), and it turns out she’s not the most approving of the American, she makes it very clear that Rachel will never be good enough for this family. Leading to the big wedding Rachel discovers how hated she is for being with Singapore’s number 1 bachelor and struggles to fit in with Singapore’s standards. Rachel goes through a journey to prove everyone wrong and stand up for herself.
The movie, directed by Jon M. Chu made you feel like you were in Singapore with all of its glamour, food, culture, and beauty. The movie delivered an excellent amount of drama where everyone in the audience was so involved that it even made some tear up. However, the elements of comedy in it made the whole theater have a laugh. The movie shows just how hard it is to be accepted into society, but how you can overcome the challenges and still stand strong for what you believe in. Everyone should go see it with friends and family. The whole cast does a phenomenal job performing, but they all have one thing in common. Being Asian.
It’s been 25 years since the film The Joy Luck Club, which was the last movie to feature an all Asian cast. This film shared how just powerful it is to create a movie with an all Asian cast and have so much success. In the field of entertainment, Asians have not had much representation and have been neglected to become apart of Hollywood.
Historically, if Asians have appeared in roles they have been stereotypical or racist roles. In an interview, Michelle Yeoh says, “When I was a young child I never, never imagined that one day that I, could be on the silver screen.” Many of the actors and actresses shared in various interviews that it is damaging to not be validated and not see yourself represented in entertainment and media from a very young age. They all hope that Crazy Rich Asians delivers a message that anyone no matter what race you are, you can do anything in life.
Everyone will remember this film as a “cultural marker” and as a piece of history that will hopefully brings more diversity to Hollywood.
Eleanor Renfrew, 2023- Arts, Entertainment, and Lifestyle Writer
Photo Credit: Roger Ebert
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