How I wanted to like this movie! I am partial to American mainstream comedies in general, and the idea of adding rich Asians twist to this type of mayhem seemed liked a great idea.
"Crazy Rich Asians" does add that twist but as it turns out, it's not exactly a comedy we have here. Yes, the trailers and other promotions present it as such but in reality, if we're to talk about genres, it's not exactly anything.
Many recent TV/web series and movies have taught us that not clinging to a genre may be a good thing, helping to achieve extra authenticity and relatability.
In this case, however, the result would probably improve by having a clear vision of what it wants to be. As it is, I can only call the movie numb and perplexing, and overall rather off-putting.
The general storyline is straight outta mainstream rom-coms. A boy and a girl are happy together, then something bad happens and the pretty facades crumbles, until they find a way to deal with it.
The problem is the boy's family who turn out to be super rich living in their own glamorous bubble, and they don't like the idea of some nobody stealing their precious son who's supposed to continue building on everything they represent.
I know, judging by this summary, there seems to be no serious problem with the whole thing. It's an entertainment after all, etc.
But the actual level of writing is so cliched, basic, and lacking anything remotely interesting that stretching it all over two hours seems unbelievable, at least in hindsight.
The actual experience is like a pale shadow of some soap opera, with plenty of beautiful things and glamour but lacking any of the emotion, suspense, or passion.
The tone is so heavily sugarcoated that it drains away any chance of bonding with or relating to any of the characters. There's never a real conflict to build some interest on.
Also, "Crazy Rich Asians" may be the most uneffective mainstream movie ever in using supporting characters as comic relief.
There are at least four characters meant specifically for that but the jokes are so seldom, lifeless and/or charmless that it feels a bit embarrassing to watch.
What's so hilarious about Asian woman fast talking like a high-pitched black man, for example? The actress doing this has an awesome artist name, though: Awkwafina.
During the two hour movie, I only laughed once - when somebody compared somebody else's colorful clothing to clown's tampon.
Honestly, "Crazy Rich Asians" doesn't even feel like a proper movie but rather a pilot for unsold TV comedy series. It's all about introducing the setting and characters rather than giving anybody something interesting to do or say.
But despite all this, I had a strong feeling that the movie works pretty well for some - as a kind of fast food entertainment product.
The late director Garry Marshall did something similar with his "Valentine's Day" / "New Year's Eve" / "Mothers Day" trilogy... only this time there's even more saccharine and mind-numbing niceness, if you can believe that.
Picturing it as not a movie but comfort food, it's easy to imagine there's a grateful audience for "Crazy Rich Asians" which will lap everything up greedily, and is equally happy with inevitable sequels offering exactly the same.
This could basically be the same audience that loves "50 Shades of Grey" (the books, the movies, or both) but can do without the "sensuality" the E.L. James-created series is famous for.
Excluding the sex-related stuff, the basic building blocks are exactly the same. There's a cool guy who also looks good, adores the girl in every way possible, can't get enough of her, and can't even think of living without her - even if the viewer can't actually see what's so extra special about said girl. And of course he turns out to be super rich as well.
If THIS doesn't have an effect on a small princess living in you, regardless of your age or sex, then nothing will.
The princess in me has left for a vacation or something, so it didn't work for me. I find "Crazy Rich Asians" too ham-fisted, boring, and sparkless to anything more than a waste of perfectly good two hours.
But judging by high scores at Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, I suspect I'm in the minority here.
"Crazy Rich Asians" does add that twist but as it turns out, it's not exactly a comedy we have here. Yes, the trailers and other promotions present it as such but in reality, if we're to talk about genres, it's not exactly anything.
Many recent TV/web series and movies have taught us that not clinging to a genre may be a good thing, helping to achieve extra authenticity and relatability.
In this case, however, the result would probably improve by having a clear vision of what it wants to be. As it is, I can only call the movie numb and perplexing, and overall rather off-putting.
The general storyline is straight outta mainstream rom-coms. A boy and a girl are happy together, then something bad happens and the pretty facades crumbles, until they find a way to deal with it.
The problem is the boy's family who turn out to be super rich living in their own glamorous bubble, and they don't like the idea of some nobody stealing their precious son who's supposed to continue building on everything they represent.
I know, judging by this summary, there seems to be no serious problem with the whole thing. It's an entertainment after all, etc.
But the actual level of writing is so cliched, basic, and lacking anything remotely interesting that stretching it all over two hours seems unbelievable, at least in hindsight.
The actual experience is like a pale shadow of some soap opera, with plenty of beautiful things and glamour but lacking any of the emotion, suspense, or passion.
The tone is so heavily sugarcoated that it drains away any chance of bonding with or relating to any of the characters. There's never a real conflict to build some interest on.
Also, "Crazy Rich Asians" may be the most uneffective mainstream movie ever in using supporting characters as comic relief.
There are at least four characters meant specifically for that but the jokes are so seldom, lifeless and/or charmless that it feels a bit embarrassing to watch.
What's so hilarious about Asian woman fast talking like a high-pitched black man, for example? The actress doing this has an awesome artist name, though: Awkwafina.
During the two hour movie, I only laughed once - when somebody compared somebody else's colorful clothing to clown's tampon.
Honestly, "Crazy Rich Asians" doesn't even feel like a proper movie but rather a pilot for unsold TV comedy series. It's all about introducing the setting and characters rather than giving anybody something interesting to do or say.
But despite all this, I had a strong feeling that the movie works pretty well for some - as a kind of fast food entertainment product.
The late director Garry Marshall did something similar with his "Valentine's Day" / "New Year's Eve" / "Mothers Day" trilogy... only this time there's even more saccharine and mind-numbing niceness, if you can believe that.
Picturing it as not a movie but comfort food, it's easy to imagine there's a grateful audience for "Crazy Rich Asians" which will lap everything up greedily, and is equally happy with inevitable sequels offering exactly the same.
This could basically be the same audience that loves "50 Shades of Grey" (the books, the movies, or both) but can do without the "sensuality" the E.L. James-created series is famous for.
Excluding the sex-related stuff, the basic building blocks are exactly the same. There's a cool guy who also looks good, adores the girl in every way possible, can't get enough of her, and can't even think of living without her - even if the viewer can't actually see what's so extra special about said girl. And of course he turns out to be super rich as well.
If THIS doesn't have an effect on a small princess living in you, regardless of your age or sex, then nothing will.
The princess in me has left for a vacation or something, so it didn't work for me. I find "Crazy Rich Asians" too ham-fisted, boring, and sparkless to anything more than a waste of perfectly good two hours.
But judging by high scores at Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, I suspect I'm in the minority here.