MOVIE

REVIEW
(Crazy Rich Asian)

Arthur Melbert C. Gallano

11 STEM A

Greza Mae B. Zaspa, MALL

Subject Instructor
I. Introduction

Movie Title: Crazy Rich Asians

Year Produced: August 7, 2018
Director: Jon M. Chu
Screenwriter: Peter Chiarelli (Screenplay)
Adele Lim (Screenplay)
Kevin Kwan (based on the novel "Crazy Rich Asians")
Genre: Romantic-Comedy and Drama
Music Director: Brian Tyler
Photography Director: Vanja Cernjul
Film Editor: Myron Kerstein
Casting By: Terri Taylor
Production Design: Nelson Coates
Art Direction: Leslie Ewe
David Ingram (senior art director)
Gary Mackay (supervising art director)
Set Decoration: Andrew Baseman
Costume Design: Mary E. Vogt
Movie Cast: Constance Wu as Rachel Chu
Henry Golding as Nicholas "Nick" Young
Michelle Yeoh as Eleanor Sung-Young
Gemma Chan as Astrid Leong-Teo
Lisa Lu as Shang Su Yi
Awkwafina as Goh Peik Lin
Ken Jeong as Goh Wye Mun
Sonoya Mizuno as Araminta Lee
Chris Pang as Colin Khoo
Jimmy O. Yang as Bernard Tai
Ronny Chieng as Eddie Cheng
Remy Hii as Alistair Cheng
Settings: Langkawi, Malaysia
(Ariminta's bachelorette party resort destination.)
Newton Food Centre, Newton, Singapore
(Ariminta, Colin & Nick introduces Rachel to a hawker
food court during their first night out in Singapore)

Carcosa Seri Negara, Wilayah Persekutuan

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Tyersall Park estate aka Young family ancestral estate
& Amah's home.)

Marina Bay Sands Hotel, 10 Bayfront Ave,

Singapore
(Finale rooftop infinity pool engagement party &
skyline exteriors)
The Raffles Hotel, 1 Beach Rd, Singapore
(Nick & Rachel's hotel accommodations)
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Middle Education
School, Caldwell House, Victoria Street, Central
Singapore
(Colin & Araminta's wedding)

Gardens by the Bay, 18 Marina Gardens Dr,

Central Singapore
(Colin & Ariminta's wedding reception)
 III. BODY

A. Plot
Nick Young and his girlfriend Rachel Chu (economics professor at New York
University) travel to Singapore for the wedding of his best friend Colin Khoo, who is marrying
Araminta Lee. In Singapore, Rachel visits her friend Peik Lin (College Roommate) and her
family, who are shocked when she tells them she is dating Nick Young. Peik Lin reveals that
Nick's family is extremely wealthy and famous and are members of high society. At a dinner
party at the Young estate (Tyresall Park), Nick introduces Rachel to his mother Eleanor, while
his cousin Astrid discovers that her husband Michael, who comes from a humbler background
than the Youngs, has been having an affair. Rachel senses that Nick`s Mother (Eleanor Young)
dislikes her. At Araminta's bachelorette party, Rachel meets Amanda, who reveals she is Nick's
former girlfriend and hints Rachel may not be able to integrate into such a high-class family
with her lower background. Nick attends Colin's bachelor party, where he reveals to Colin his
plan to propose to Rachel. Colin expresses his concern about the trouble it will cause them,
especially with Nick expected to stay in Singapore and run his family's corporation and Rachel
loving her job in New York, as well as the difference in their statuses. Nick apologizes to
Rachel for not telling her who he really was and takes her to make jiaozi dumplings with his
family. Here, Eleanor recounts the sacrifices she made to become a part of the Young family
and makes jabs at Rachel for her American background. Eleanor privately tells Rachel that she
will never be enough for Nick or his family. Peik Lin convinces Rachel to stand up to Eleanor
and earn her respect. On the day of the wedding, Astrid confronts Michael about his affair;
Michael blames his unhappiness and the great financial disparity between them on her.

During the wedding reception, Eleanor and Nick's grandmother privately confront
Rachel and Nick. Using the findings of a private investigation, Eleanor reveals that Rachel's
father is alive, and Rachel was conceived through an adulterous affair, after which her mother,
Kerry, abandoned her husband and fled to the United States. They demand that Nick stop seeing
Rachel for fear of a scandal, as they cannot be linked to such a family. Rachel is stunned, as
Kerry had told her that her father was dead. She flees and stays at Peik Lin's home, depressed
and unwilling to speak to Nick. Kerry (Rachel Chu`s Mother) arrives in Singapore, explaining
that her husband was abusive and that the comfort an old classmate provided turned into love
and a surprise pregnancy. She fled with baby Rachel in fear that her husband would kill them.
Kerry reveals that Nick was the one who had called her to Singapore and urges Rachel to talk
to him. When they meet, Nick apologizes and proposes to Rachel, saying that he is willing to
leave his family behind to be with her. Rachel arranges to meet Eleanor at a mahjong parlor.
Over a game of mahjong, she reveals to Eleanor that she declined Nick's proposal so his
relationship with his family would not be ruined. She tells Eleanor to remember that when Nick
eventually marries someone "good enough" for her, it will be because of a selfless act on the
part of Rachel, a girl Eleanor looks down upon. Meanwhile, Astrid moves out, telling Michael
his ego, insecurities, and unwillingness to make their marriage work caused it to fail.Rachel
and Kerry board a flight back to New York City, but are interrupted by Nick, who proposes
with Eleanor's ring, revealing her blessing. In tears, Rachel accepts and they stay in Singapore
one more night for an engagement party, where Eleanor nods at Rachel in acknowledgment,
Rachel having finally earned her respect.

B. Commentary
The movie “Crazy Rich Asian” is the first major Hollywood Film in 26 years to feature
all Asian cast and believe it could herald change in terms of how Hollywood deals with
diversity. However, the movie censured the accurate representation of Singapore society. In
fact, there are fears it might even fuel more pernicious misrepresentations and stereotypes of
what Singapore, Singaporeans and Asians are about. But focusing the flow of the story, it was
good especially the locations used were grand like the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, Carcosa Seri
Negara and the Church that makes the movie crazy rich. The actors and actresses portrayed
their role excellently but they casted biracial and non-Chinese actors in ethnically Chinese
roles. Also, the language they speak by the characters are British English and American English
over Singaporean English. Costumes/Outfits and accessories brands were awesome according
to Mary Vogt (Costume Designer) especially the clothing brands in the movie were Dolce &
Gabbana, Valentino, Dior, Hemes and lots of Asian Designers. Also, to make the jewelries
epic, according to an interview with Mary Vogt they chose jewelries that fits the personality of
each character either use jewelries from famous brand or they make it customized like Eleanor
Young’s emerald engagement ring was inspired by Jackie Kennedy’s diamond and emerald
Van Cleef & Arpels engagement ring. My favorite character in the movie is Astrid Leong-Teo,
Astrid was engaged to Charlie Wu but was forced to break up with him due to her parents not
viewing him as a suitable husband. He was the one who introduced her to high fashion and
helped cultivate her fashion sense due to her parents not wanting to spend money so flippantly
but later married Astrid was later married to former military officer turned businessman,
Michael Teo. But her dreams of having a happy family was not so happy, because her husband
Michael doesn’t want to see the designer clothes and bags that she spends from her salary in a
week that is less than the salary of her husband in a month. When she knew that her husband
is having an affair, she still faithful to her family especially that they have a son (Cassian). But
at the end, she broke up with her husband and told him “It’s not my job to make you feel like
a man, I can’t make you something that you are not.”.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. General Impression about the Movie
The story of the movie is good because the Asian audiences take pride
in having their voice and culture seen and heard. And the movie taught
us life lessons. These include:
We aim to thrive, not just to survive, It’s a common situation for
people to face having to choose between taking a risk or playing it safe,
and because of insecurities and fear, the option that is often chosen is to
play it safe.
How you carry yourself is important, everybody knows that the
world is a harsh place and not everybody is going to be nice to you, but
at the end of the day, you still represent yourself and not others—it can
be really difficult to swallow your pride but sometimes it’s way better
than stooping down to someone’s level.
Don’t be afraid to be you and to live for you, you shouldn’t be afraid
to be your own person and make decisions for yourself. Apart from
Nick probably being the first in his family to not marry into their
recommended circles, we also see him choosing to be in New York to
be a professor instead of joining the family business. Rachel is another
character that shows this, by her owning who she is and where comes
from, and proving that shared ethnicity doesn’t mean shared culture
should be seen as an inspiring message to not be afraid of who you are
and the decisions you want to make for yourself.
Money doesn’t buy happiness, it’s a message that is evidently
present once you look past all the rich and observe the actual lives of
these ‘old-money’ families. For instance, Astrid and Michael’s biggest
issue was the pressure that Astrid had to ensure that Michael wouldn’t
feel small because she had more money than him. Eleanor Young’s
issues stemmed from her ongoing fight to prove that she’s worthy of
her mother-in-law, Su Yi’s acceptance. Nick Young’s issues actually
stemmed from being wealthy, and the message that money doesn’t buy
happiness is especially exemplified when we saw that Nick was so
ready to walk away from it all to be with someone he loved.

B. RECOMMENDATION

If you like to watch Romantic Comedy Film with a touch of grand

luxury, this movie must be one of your movies to watch list. Also this
movie features destinations that you can visit here in Asia for your
future travel bucket list and all asian cast.