REVIEW: CRAZY RICH ASIANS

4/5

Crazy, Smart, Love.

121 Mins. Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Nico Santos, Lisa Lu, Jimmy O. Yang, Harry Shum Jr., Sonoya Mizuno, Chris Pang, Ken Jeong & Michelle Yeoh. Director: Jon M. Chu.

Golding...Henry Golding. Look through the scope down the barrel. As rumors are spiralling that the presenter of BBC's 'The Travel Show', Henry Golding on the trip of his life has more than a shot at walking away with the iconic, stop and shoot 007 intro no matter whose blood runs cold. Remember didn't 'Luther' himself Idris Elba say no already (although we think he's just being a typical great British gentleman and waiting until Daniel Craig's had his last shake of the Martini before he stirs the pot). So it looks like the suit and sidearm of James Bond doesn't belong to a white man, or a black man. But an Asian one. Crazy, huh? No! As all you need to do is read all about a recent American GQ feature on this Malaysian new money actor shopping for watches on Hollywood boulevard to see that his man who speaks with a British tongue has the accented debonair flair to play the most refreshingly inspired role call of Ian Fleming's incarnation yet. Despite the fact that the man of the moment who is also playing Blake Lively's husband (sorry Ryan) in the new movie also out this month in 'A Simple Favor' with Anna Kendrick is facing cultural controversy over his casting in this movie 'Crazy Rich Asians' set between the stunning skyscrapers of Singapore. A Chinese city that looks like neighbours Hong Kong played a hand of cards in a casino with the United Arab Emirates of Dubai. But what's the problem? Trolls shouldn't reach for their keys like this was the 'Iron Fist', or how they unfairly took hits off 'Star Wars-The Last Jedi' new star Kelly Marie Tran. Because after all isn't this movie about educating acceptance without boundaries or borders? No matter the limits placed on or by family or money. For the culture this is not appropriation, but celebration. So lets not close off this experience to anyone for the coronation of the wedding of the year (sorry Harry, but they say this guys more like Prince William) and the celebration of the first all-Asian Hollywood film in a quarter of a century in 'Crazy Rich Asians'. 25 years after the crazy, stupid love of 'The Joy Luck Club' starring 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' and 'E.R.' actress Ming Na-Wen. It seems about the right time for the first Bond to not just be blonde hair and blue eyes, but any color, creed, or culture. And a cavalier Henry (no Cavill like Superman) could be the man to watch like the wrist gadget under his suit sleeve. Because here the charming and disarming Golding is the gold standard of this gaudy glamorous glitz. As 'Crazy Rich Asians' is about to take over the world like those K-Pop megastar idol, BTS boys in South Korea. Whose 'Love Yourself' messages are exactly what that country and the watching world needs right now with everything they and we have been through as a whole.

But the one constant in this 'Crazy Rich' movie is Constance Wu. The 'Fresh Off The Boat' actress. She is the star of this rom-com like the bridesmaid who will be bride, but in her own story where the princess saves herself. Swept off her Cinderella slippers or not. Because this romantic dramedy has more than a heart of glass. The weight of gold isn't just in wedding favors for the rich and privileged, but in the actual truth to the vow that bands round your ring finger. And Wu to the letter means every word. And in her career defining moment in this defintive, cultural touchstone of a movie she walks from the aisle to down the red carpet for everyone before her and after to show no woman like her will be left at the altar ever again. And in 'Now You See Me 2' director Jon M. Chu's stepped up direction in matrimony with Kevin Kwan's novel bestseller (a trilogy of 'China Rich Girlfriends' and 'Rich People Problems' anyone?) this legacy making movie has it's own legend who broke Hollywood before doors were opened for her. From James Bond himself, to where no man has boldly gone before in Star Trek. And with this discovery the time defying Michelle Yeoh shows us tomorrow never dies, as the 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' legend really steps out of the shadows that Hollywood tried to hide with furious fire. An actress who leaves an indelible impression on you that you won't soon forget, even if you've only met her on screens a handful of times. Her mothering character disapproving of her sons engagement with a New Yorker is far from a villain, despite some money made manipulatory tactics that verge on the vile, or at the very least the vindictive. But like any one managing those under her, she too has someone to answer to. And this is in the form of 'Joy Luck' and 'Dangerous Liasions' icon Lisa Lu on grand form. Yeoh's mother may seem overpowering, but really it's merely protective. Her love domineering, but in essence unconditional. And the legend of Chinese cinema handles all of this with the class and dignity her whole career has afforded from H.K. dollars to U.S. bills. The actress who crossed continents with her good friend Chan's character husband is not revealed here. Pointedly away on business he doesn't need to be either. But we kind of cameo hoped it would fittingly be Jackie. Maybe in some hidden way it is.

And in some 20 years since Chan's 'Rush Hour' with Chris Tucker became the first major Hollywood blockbuster with an Asian and black lead together, side by side. We finally see some Asian Hollywood stars, male and female with leading sex symbol status next to all the Gosling's and Stone's of La La Hollywoodland. Two decades after that landmark trilogy beginning showed two strong and skilled characters, albeit bumbling comic-relief ones with little in the way of love, despite the heart of the soul of their friendship. Stereotype and stigma cancelled. There's funny here. From 'Silicon Valley' next gen comedian and 'Patriots Day' hero Jimmy O. Yang in Alan from 'The Hangover' maddening mode. To a legend of that 'Community' himself, Ken Jeong for all your HA! gifs. And who could forget comedienne and hip-hop star Awkwafina herself? Whose so good she has her own one name like Beyonce after stealing the show and pot in the girl power heist of this years 'Ocean 8'. Here she's one more film away from being Asia's answer to Melissa McCarthy or Tiffany Haddish (now that sounds like a big three movie). But by grace there's beauty and brains here, like iconic 'Humans', 'Sherlock' and forthcoming 'Captain Marvel' actress Gemma Chan and the grown 'Glee' of Harry Shum Jr. Not to mention the actual marrying kind in question, 'Ex Machina' and 'Annihilation' actress Sonoya Mizuno and Australian actor Chris Pang coupling up in this honoured, whose who roll call. But it's the NBC 'Superstore' employee Nico Santos who steals the show with sass and swag to the P of Golding's Golden State Warrior like character name, Nick Young. And all in this epic ensemble, flipping the script on even that very Hollywood cliche, this wedding date truly is a game changer as the movie industry will never be the same again. Forget a movie world where the legendary Ken Watanabe plays a Chinese or Korean man when he is actually Japanese. Or when Mexican characters in films are stereotypically only called by names like Jose, Miguel or Rodriguez. 'Crazy Rich Asians' celebrates the love of their culture and originality like 'Love Simon' does individual sexuality without making a big deal about it like everyone else in the Hollywood watching world does, including us. All set to a sensational, Spotify playlist ready soundtrack of Chinese covers of your favourite records. There's a hallmark romantic comedy moment in this movie that takes it from a 3 star movie to a 4 star one that redefines it and in that instant becomes more important than everything else in this tough loving, rough and smooth world we try to forget or at least ignore when the lights go down. But you can't deny the satisfaction at a Trump time like this of the number one and two movies in the U.S. box office being this and the true story of a black police officer infiltrating the Klu Klux Klan by pretending to be a white supremacist in Spike Lee's incendiary and influential 'BlackKklansman'. Build a wall around that Donald! Call me crazy but this movie is rich with more than the gold of money. Family blood in or out is the real wealth and that kindness its currency. And to that end you are all invited to 'My Big, Crazy Asian Wedding'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding', 'The Joy Luck Club', 'A Simple Favor'.