Romantic comedies don’t exactly have the best reputation for creating social conversation around race and diversity. But that’s what makes “Crazy Rich Asians” so spectacular.
Released Aug. 15, the new film took the top spot after a $25 million opening weekend, with no signs of slowing down. The New York Times reports the film is the best result from a PG-13 rom-com in six years, when “Think Like a Man,” featuring an all-black primary cast, hit theaters.
It’s no surprise this film rendition of Kevin Kwan’s 2013 novel of the same title stood out against current big screen contenders. “Crazy Rich Asians” is the first all-Asian primary cast since “The Joy Luck Club” released in 1993.
It wasn’t the impeccable, yet still loveably cheesy writing we expect from romantic comedies that pushed this film over the top.
It wasn’t the well-placed comedic interludes by a cast of incredibly talented actors that made this rendition so successful. It wasn’t the dazzling effects producing “oohs and ahhs” with every glimmering scene set in beautiful Singapore that helped “Crazy Rich Asians” take the August theater spotlight. Rather, it was the casting and dedication to portraying diversity, culture and pure storytelling.
The film is set around the relationship between Rachel Chu, an Asian-American professor, and her secretive significant other Nick Young, who is originally from Singapore.
Nick, played by rising actor Henry Golding, showcases a charming British accent and a flair for spontaneity. When he finds it’s time to share his buttoned-up family life with Rachel, played by Constance Wu, she realizes just why he’d been so secretive for so long.
In true rom-com fashion, Nick ends up hailing from one of the most influential and wealthiest (fictional) families in Singapore. Rachel must stack up to Nick’s posh family, while attempting to connect with a side of her heritage she knows little about.
This film presents a tightened plot from the original novel. Some aspects of the film, such as supporting roles and supporting storylines, that were fully contextualized in the novel don’t receive quite as much time in the movie. Still, that just means fans deserve a sequel — soon.
“Crazy Rich Asians” does what many other romantic comedies forget: it provides a hefty dose of magic. From scene to costume design, even the smallest portions of this film appear magical.
Anyone who has seen the wedding scene from this film knows how hard it is to feel a combination of happy and sad. Anyone who hasn’t seen that specific scene, well you’ll know when you see it.
Although “Crazy Rich Asians” stands out against other classic romantic comedy tropes, the film utilizes just the right amount of familiarity. Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love. Boy ends up being rich. Boy and girl embark on a magical adventure in a dazzling city. And the rest is simply spoilers. You get the picture.
However, instead of a meek or hesitant female lead in this film, Rachel is refreshingly confident and cool. Most romantic comedies tend to rely on the untangling of a rather messy life the female character leads — but not Rachel Chu.
It’s modern and fresh. It’s sleek and silly all at the same time. “Crazy Rich Asians” might have been initially coined as just a rom-com, but if the box office and viewer reaction show anything but the influence of diversity, then Hollywood just doesn’t know what it’s missing.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected]