Must See Movie: Crazy Rich Asians

Without a doubt, Crazy Rich Asians is the best romantic movie I’ve seen in the last few years.

If you’re looking for an emotion-drenched romance full of beautiful people and with an epic ending–the kind of ending I try to write in my romance novels–this movie is for you.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, the screenplay is by Peter Chiarelli (known for The Proposal and Eagle Eye) and Adele Lim (probably known for her TV work like Reign, Lethal Weapon, Star-crossed, Missing, Private Practice).

Jon M. Chu (actor, writer, director, producer) directed and as you can tell by my rave review, he did an amazing job.

If you’re a big fan of the novel, Crazy Rich Asians, you might be interested in the changes that were made to bring the book to the big screen.

One of the screenwriters, veteran television writer and producer, Adele Lim, discusses it here.

Cast and Characters

The actors gave riveting performances. The cast was huge since most Asian families are like families in the South with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents–inlaws and outlaws–on both sides of a marriage are all included.

All of the actors deserve kudos, but I’ll mention only the main ones who breathed life into the characters and made me want to watch another movie with them as the same characters.

Constance Wu as Rachel Chu, the heroine

Kheng Hua Tan as Kerry Ch, her mother

Henry Golding as Nick Young, the hero

Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor Young, the hero’s mother

Lisa Lu as Ah Ma, the matriarch of the family

Gemma Chan as Astrid Young Teo, one of the cousins whose performance was memorable even though she wasn’t on screen very much.

Pierre Png as Michael Teo, Astrid’s husband, perfect in his role as commoner married to a princess

Awkwafina as Peik Lin Goh, comic relief as the former college roommate

Chris Pang as Colin Ku, the bridegroom

Sonoya Mizuno as Araminta Lee, the bride

The wedding scene is breathtaking. I wonder if brides everywhere will be trying to re-create the flowing water scene.

What can I say but go see this movie for yourself. It’s simply a wonderful romantic movie with everything you want in a romance. Best unintended message? Even crazy rich people have the same wants and needs as other people.

Best overt message? Love makes you become more than you were before you loved.

My daughter and I dragged Darling Hubby along. (He wanted to see Mile 22.) Guess what? He liked it too. Daughter and I decided we’d have to go see it again if only to ooh and ahh over the fabulous clothes and jewels and shed a few tears along the way.

I can see an Oscar nomination for set decoration and costumes coming up. Would love to see nominations for the writers, director, and cast. I’m hoping that the second book in Mr. Kwan’s trilogy will be brought to film too.

By the way, Kevin Kwan graduated from Clear Lake High School here in Houston and received his first degree from the University of Houston.

Takeaway Truth

Rarely does a romantic movie come along that is perfect in every way. Crazy Rich Asians is exactly that.

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