It's a story you've heard before, more or less. Nice girl, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), meets a charming, handsome boy, Nick Young (Henry Golding), who turns out to be a prince. In this instance, the prince is the heir to one of the wealthiest, old money families in Singapore.
The two navigate the highs and lows of an over-the-top family wedding, while Rachel grapples with the fact that she may not fit into this Crazy Rich Asians world.
Rachel, a successful, independent, Chinese American economics professor, finds that all of her accomplishments work against her. Especially when it comes to the approval of Nick's incredibly protective mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh).
The film is sweet, sassy, and even infuriating at times. It tells some universal truths, and gives some a chance to see themselves in the characters on the screen, and others a chance to peek into a world outside their bubble. It's a world you may be surprised to find isn't so different from your own.
"Crazy Rich Asians" has its fair share of star turns, from the literal scene stealer, Awkwafina as Rachel's college friend Goh Peik Lin, to the incomparable Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh adds a quite strength and elegance to Eleanor that makes it impossible not to empathize with her.
At it's core, "Crazy Rich Asians," is a very well-done romantic comedy, but it represents so much more. This cast and this story represent change. They remind us of the power of storytelling and how enriching diverse storytelling can be. The film pulls you in with its familiarity, and uses its details to (hopefully) leave a mark.
...just for fun: