Crazy Rich Asians: Jon M. Chu’s romantic comedy opens up a window for a glimpse at a world not seen very often (at least not coming from an American studio, and it’s refreshing to see this particular demographics dominate a movie for a change); the main story is interesting, touching. The problem is that there is a secondary story that, while with potential, is not explored fully; also, a supporting group of characters feels too broadly comedic, at odds with the tone of the rest of the film. In that sense, the performances, minor as they may be, of Awkwafina and Ken Jeong, among others, are somewhat annoying; but the central couple, played by Constance Wu and Henry Golding is convincing, both in looks and acting; Gemma Chan has a sorrowful, regal, and elegant presence; but it’s Michelle Yeoh as the ferociously protective mother who comes up best. The absurd (and at times, by design, excessive) luxuriousness is well captured by cinematographer Vanja Cernjul. The film has an interesting soundtrack, with many renditions of known songs in Chinese, presumably.
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