By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4 cats
Director: Jon M. Chu
Starring: Awkwafina | Chris Pang | Constance Wu | Gemma Chan | Harry Chum Jr. | Henry Golding | Jimmy O. Yang | Ken Jeong | Lisa Lu | Michelle Yeoh | Sonoya Mizuno
Country: united_states
Year: 2018
Running time: 120
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988/reference
Thom says: “I’ve seen three of director Chu’s previous efforts: STEP UP 2: THE STREETS, STEP UP 3D, & NOW YOU SEE ME 2, nothing particularly memorable in professional talents but maybe he was right for this project. The fun, sensationalize d script adapted from the hugely successful novel (Kevin Kwan has three simultaneous novels adorning the Best Seller lists all with similar themes) needed competence and a deft hand, but the film has been heavily advertized as a comedy but it was rather more heavily a drama, an usual Hollywood marketing ploy. Rachel Chu (a charming Wu) is a Columbia Economics professor who is deeply in love with Nick Young (Golding is a real hottie), who unbeknownst to her, is heir to a humongous Singapore fortune, whose family is near royalty back home. Nick is going back to Singapore to be Best Man in his best buddy’s wedding and he invites her to attend as his “date”. Nick’s family is shocked and horrified to discover the very low origins of Rachel and do everything possible to dismantle the engagement. The whole affair is brightly-coloured and packed with elaborate & vivacious scenes and while it sometimes goes off on too many tangential paths, it is always entertaining. The obl igatory gay character was stereotypically sissified, to pose no real threat. I loved Rachel’s Singapore pal Peik (a disarming Awkwafina) who plays more like a “sister”. The outstandingly beautiful Gemma Chan as sister-in-law Astrid is haunting. 4 cats”
Diane says: “Awkwafina was hands-down my favorite part of this movie. I think it qualifies as a romantic comedy.
“I found most of the second half boring—not much of an emotional arc, nor was I invested in the characters. A troubled marriage was presented for our sympathies, but I felt I scarcely had gotten to know the couple.
“Still, everyone should pay to see this film to support well-rounded Asian characters in Hollywood films.”
Michael says: “When Nick finally asks his girlfriend Rachel to accompany him to Singapore to attend a wedding where she will finally meet his mother, as well as the rest of the family) she has no idea that he comes from an incredibly wealthy family that has steep expectations of their first-born son. With really great performances from a large cast of characters, Chiarelli and Lim create a fantastic adaptation of a near picture perfect (if formulaic) romantic comedy. And who can resist Michelle Yeoh? Such a fun crowd-pleaser. So how did Chu do such a poor job with IN THE HEIGHTS? 4 cats“