CRAZY RICH ASIANS
US, 2018, 120 minutes, Colour.
Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Lisa Lu, Awkwafina, Harry Shun Jr, Ken Jeong, Chris Pang, Jimmy O.Yang, Ronnie Chieng, Nico Santos, Pierre Png.
Directed by John M. Chu.
Certainly a title that does not deceive its audiences!
The film was based on novels by Ken Kwan, very popular novels. And the film has proven to be not only popular, but box-office successfully popular, especially in the United States. And it won’t do the Singapore economy any harm, especially attracting any crazy rich Asians who haven’t visited Singapore – and, probably, quite a lot of crazy rich Americans, as well is the rest of this.
There is a reference at one stage to Cinderella. So, this is a variation on the Cinderella story except that the heroine, Rachel (an attractive Constance Wu) is not indentured in hard labour and does not have a harsh stepmother or ugly stepsisters. Rather, she is a Chinese immigrant to the US living with her single mother, with a degree in economics and a professorship in Economics at New York University. No slouch!
She is in love with a charming and handsome Singapore man, Nick Ewing (Malaysia and TV host Henry Golding with an impeccable British accent, who lived in the UK in teen years – and, interestingly, most of the Singaporean characters speak with the British heritage). They had been together for a year and she knows little about his background but is pleased when he invites her to accompany him to Singapore for a friend’s wedding. However, gossip social media has photographed the two and before you can say Crazy Rich Asians, everybody in Asia has pictures, asking questions, gossiping.
When they get into the plane to Singapore, Rachel is astonished that she is taken to a first-class suite and realises that when Nick says his family is comfortable she is to understand that they are very rich. In a way, we can guess the rest (or have seen it in the trailer where most is revealed), Rachel being uncomfortable, overcoming hesitations and taking strong stances, Nick continually being charming and loving, introductions to the rest of the family with their problems but, especially the matriarchal (very matriarchal) grandmother who makes decisions about people people’s lives (veteran actress Lisa Lu) and Nick’s rather icy mother, a pleasure to see Michelle Yeoh again.
There is plenty to show in terms of the crazy rich – extravagant parties, huge payments, something which brings to mind an analogy with violence porn, wealth porn. It is showy, in-your-face, exaggerated (we hope), the self-indulgent life of the rich and – fatuous.
Actually, there is a bit of dialogue to indicate this, especially at the end at a party where the women rather hysterically indulge in shopping sprees (with a sardonic remark that the most enthusiastic about freebies are the rich) and massages, along with some catty denunciations of Rachel as a golddigger.
The crazy rich are amusingly satirised by a family with US comedy actor, Ken Jeong, as the father and Awkwafina (who was one of the Oceans 8) enjoying her comic turns as Rachel’s good friend and chaperone.
Of course, everything has to come to a head, the wedding ceremony to which Nick and Rachel had been invited, Rachel denounced, the story of her mother coming from the US to rescue her daughter – and, while it is not midnight with Nick proposing with a glass slipper, there is an ending which hopes for happy ever after. The screenplay clearly hopes for a sequel and, with the financial success of the film, it is already underway.
1. The popularity of the novels, the film? For Americans? Asian audiences? Popularity worldwide?
2. The title, the tone? Soap opera and the memories of Dallas and Dynasty? The Asian setting, wealth, business, in China, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore? The development of Singapore? Real estate? Traditional fortunes, the newly rich? The setting up of classes and superiority?
3. The New York settings, New York University, the lecture about gambling? Rachel and Nick in the bar? Their talk, together for one year, love, the invitation to go to the East, the occasion of the wedding, Rachel not knowing Nick’s background, the plane, the first-class suite, her becoming aware that he was rich?
4. The background of Singapore, the glamorous city, the range of buildings, modern style, the lights, affluence, mansions, the modern Singapore, not the past?
5. The photos, the media, social media and information, gossip and speculation, all around the world?
6. The Young family, their wealth, the mansion, the brother and his making the film, the actress and her inabilities? Astrid, going on buying expeditions, the earings, hiding things
at home, her children, the alienation from Michael, his being a commoner? Alastair? Oliver and his interventions – distant cousin? Camp? Design?
7. Nick, the absent father on business, Nick not wanting to return, the occasion for the wedding, Colin and his fiancee?
8. The role of the grandmother, strongly matriarchal, meeting Rachel, approval or disapproval?
9. Nick’s mother? Her glacial manner, her position, wanting everything for her son, the difficult past, not being approved by her mother-in-law? The ring? Meeting Rachel, the talk, the taunts, the disapproval, the dismissal?
10. Rachel in herself, age and experience, living with her mother, the filling in of her mother’s background story, in China, the father, the affair, Rachel being born, the escape to the United States, the single mother bringing up her daughter?
11. The newly rich family, the mother and father and their excessive behaviour, spoof, wealth, everything gold? The shy brother and his photographs? Peik? Her exuberance, knowing Rachel in New York? Helping with the clothes, chauffeuring her to the party?
12. The reception, the affluence, the extravagance, the house, food, the kitchen, the guests, behaviour?
13. Nick and his mother, her expectations, Rachel staying at the hotel? Nick and his love?
14. The men’s party, helicopters, the battleship, Bernard and his showmanship? Nick and Colin escaping to the island, the discussions, friendship?
15. Rachel and the women’s party, the crowds, the shopping spree, the hysteria of the women, the rich enjoying freebies? The massage? The lawyer, her past relationship
with Nick, her taunting Rachel? The blood and the animal, the words about her being a golddigger? Her reaction, wanting to be strong and determined?
16. The preparation for the wedding, Peik and the range of dresses, trying them on, glamour? Oliver’s help? The make up? Going to the wedding, Nick and his presence, the grandmother sitting in state, Nick’s mother? The revelation about the private investigator and Rachel’s story? Rachel leaving?
17. The effect on Nick, his seeking out Rachel, the proposal, his mother’s ring? Rachel refusing?
18. Nick’s mother, responding with the mah jong game, the play and the police?
19. Rachel’s mother, Nick bringing her to Singapore, supporting her daughter?
20. Nick, Rachel going to the plane, asking her to stay for a day, the encounter with all the friends, his mother present, the approval?
21. The subplot with Astrid, her husband, his affair, the reasons for the breakup, the postscript with the reuniting?
22. the happy ending and the prospect for a sequel?
