'Crazy Rich Asians' is an Extravagant RomCom for All

Constance Wu as Rachel Chu | Warner Bros. Pictures

We've been looking forward for months since we found out that Constance Wu will be at the forefront of the film adaptation of the best-selling book, Crazy Rich Asians. Then the hype for the film increased even more when we learned that Kris Aquino was also attached to the project. Months after the excitement building up, it's finally here, and it was an absolute delight.

 The film follows New Yorker and Economic professor, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. It's only then that Rachel finds out that Nick comes from a "crazy rich" family, and is one of the most desired bachelors. This ticks Rachel’s anxiety, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh) taking aim.

I went into this thinking that an all-Asian cast in a Hollywood blockbuster would feel different or unsettling (in a good way, of course), but it’s comfortingly not and everything felt rather natural and universal. I suppose it's because it has all the components of a great romcom--good chemistry between the leads, compelling conflict, immersive mush and thrill, great soundtrack--only with additional Asian flavor. Thus, it makes for a refreshing yet familiar film to enjoy, and Crazy Rich Asians gives sense to that.

Constance Wu, who deserves all the prominence this film has given her, easily makes her character Rachel a lead to aspire, adore and remember. She's gorgeous, classy, and extremely likable even without trying too hard. In one of her highlights, as Kina Granni covers a romantic rendition of Can't Help Falling in Love during their friend's wedding, Wu melts all the hearts as she shares a look with Nick, with so much love and expression in her eyes. Michelle Yeoh, on the other hand, is a fierce yang to Wu's yin as Nick's refusing mother, almost similar to Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestly, who is always calm and elegant, and never trashy with her dislike. She is commanding in every scene she's in. The whole ensemble was a hoot, with Awkwafina being another highlight as Rachel's funny and caring girlfriend. Regarding Kris Aquino, I assume that director Jon M. Chu was in complete control of her. She's not OA, she's restrained, as she should be, as Princess Intan, who shared a short but pleasant scene with Wu. She looks good in the film!

Kris Aquino shares a scene with Constance Wu | Warner Bros. Pictures

The whole film looks radiant that the "crazy rich" aspect is real as hell. Parties are grand, dresses look expensive, jewelries everywhere, every set piece is topnotch. The whole wedding is out-of-this-world extravagant, and the whole cityscape of Singapore beams like expensive jewels.

Ultimately, this movie works wonders because it's about everyone. It's about a mother whose aim is to keep her family intact, a wife whose hope is to make her husband feel confident with her love, a daughter or a son who wants to please their lovers, and anyone who values their family as much as they value their true love.