**MAJOR SPOILER ALERT**

Since before it’s release, the movie had been garnering tons of hype, even from corners of the world where Hollywood movies do not have as much of an audience. There was a lot of fanfare, mostly from movie critics, about how this was going to be a “Black Panther” moment for the Asian community and how this was a statement about diversity and representation on the silver screen.

So, did director Jon M. Chu’s latest creation live up to the lofty expectations placed upon it’s shoulders?

Over the past few weeks there’s been a torrent of reviews from a variety of publishers with all manner of complaints ranging from how the movie does not portray normal Asians, to how none of the main actors in the movie were Singaporeans and how the movie seems to portray Asians from the perspective of Americans. Well, while some of these may be factually true, I would strongly disagree with the perspectives taken by these critics.

If you could group all the criticisms and complaints into a single basket and give it a name, it would be called “representation” or the lack thereof.

But before I delve deeper into this prickly issue, let me just say that I’m Singaporean (proudly so) and also a Malay (one of the minority races in Singapore. If you got to know me, you would also know that I was raised on a diet of American TV as an escape from growing up in your typical strict “all about studies” Asian household. So remember that before you start going all savage in the comments.

A misleading caricature of Singapore & Southeast Asia

A common criticism of the movie is that it depicts the lives of a small group of the Asian population and misses out on the lives of the common man. It’s true. The movie doesn’t even come close to representing the rich diversity of the Southeast Asian people or even Asian-Americans at that. But that’s okay. The richness, diversity and nuances of our cultural hotpot was never going to be successfully tackled nor addressed in 120 minute rom-com.

Even director Jon M. Chu admitted that to make one movie that represents all Asians, “ — thats just ridiculous”.

What makes the movie great is that it doesn’t try to represent everyone. A movie needs to have a specific perspective and be built around a specific place and time. Sure in this movie it was based around an East-Asian cast and came from the perspective of the crazy-rich and the fish-out of water but strong independent damsel. But that made a compelling narrative for the rom-com. None of that focus group tested, Netflix-style algorithm directed movies that tries to appeal to everyone but end up being super bland and a mash up of bull-shit. This movie may have been created in a way that appeals more to an Asian American audience but that’s absolutely fine. If you’re gonna start a “diversity” argument, who are you to decide who is or isn’t Asian enough. Asian-Americans will probably be the biggest audience for this movie. Remember, for the movie to actually make its supposed “point”, it has to knock it out of the park in the box office or it would join What Happens in Vegas or Ghosts of Girlfriends Past in the highlight reel of worst romantic comedies ever made.

The movie is also based on a book so let’s not go all holier than thou on Jon Chu or the writers regarding the story line or characters.

On a side note, I think no one is coming away from the movie under the illusion that all Asians (or even Singaporeans) are filthy rich. And if you came to this movie thinking it would be showing you a true reflection of Asian life, I would direct you to the title of the movie being “Crazy Rich Asians”. For once, can’t we just appreciate a movie showing Asians in a different light, one that we are not doing martial arts, escaping war or being the comedic foil to a white male lead.

A lack of Singaporeans in the main cast

The Singaporean actors and actresses (Fiona Xie, Pierre Png, Tan Kheng Hua, Janice Koh, Koh Chieng Mun and Amy Cheng) who made it into the cast truly did hold their own in the field of experienced players. But having watched the movie, you’d be hard pressed to find an equal Singaporean replacement for any of the leading roles. Constance Wu’s and Michelle Yeong’s acting chops are beyond reproach and Henry Golding is just a natural (I mean what else can you say about that work-of-art of a man).

Hubba Hubba

Being a Singaporean, I have also watched all manner of local TV and have usually been left wanting with the level of acting. If I’m being honest, even the acting on some of the top rated Singaporean shows can be cringe-worthy. So this point, to me, is a non-issue. At the end of the day, we want a good movie, and the director should have the right to pick the best man or woman for the role at hand.

Also, while this movie may have been based in Singapore, its not only about Singaporeans. How about some Southeast Asian pride for Malaysians, Michelle Yeoh and Henry Golding.

Where are the Non-Chinese Asians?

NOW THIS is a well deserved criticism. Even a basic google search would have shown how much Singapore takes pride in its multi-cultural society. Even if the film was one that isn’t supposed to be a perfect representation of Singapore, it was very disheartening that only times any minorities appeared on screen, was in the role of underlings, like security guard or a server. A large majority of South-East Asia is made of up us, brown Asians, and by portraying the movie with almost 100% Chinese/light-skinned actors, it will definitely play a role in the erasure of darker skinned Southeast Asians and Singapore minorities in the minds of the largely western audience. Really, how hard could it have been to cast a single Malay, Indonesian or Indian actor in any or the supporting roles?

Suhaimi Yusof anyone?

Alright enough with dealing with all the negativity out there about the movie. Lets turn this ship around and look on the bright side.

Behind all the glitz, relatable family dynamics

As a Singaporean who has grown up in a typical Asian family, I don’t see how the majority of us could watch the movie and not see some of ourselves in the Young or Chu family. To me, the movie is like a freshly baked Apple pie. The wealth, bling and sequins being the fancy crust, but if you dug beneath it, you would have found a typical Asian family with family dynamics that we all can relate to. From the grandma asking her grandson, Nic, whether he has been eating and why he’s so thin (despite him looking obviously well fed) to over-bearing parents seeking to have unreasonable control over every aspect of their child’s life.

Making traditional foodstuffs together as a family and the immense deference given to the elderly. Looking down on jobs that the generations past do not deem worthy to the protective stance and quick judgement of “outsiders” portrayed in the movie. I could go on and on.

Singapore on the Silver Screen

Even before the movie started, I have to admit that I was just waiting for the moment the couple would make their transit over to Singapore so that I could see my country being prominently featured on the biggest screen in the world. Gone are the days where we are just a glitzy backdrop for action scenes like in Hitman: Agent 47 or a run-down pirate hideout in Pirates of the Caribbean. This time, we ARE the main backdrop to a blockbuster Hollywood movie and I couldn’t be prouder. After spending an entire lifetime watching movies mostly based in the western world or some unnamed small town, it sure felt good to see my home on the silver screen. Sure the locations shot were straight out of a Singapore Tourism Board advert (and yes STB had a partnership with WB for the movie), but it still felt pretty surreal that the very paths I had walked, places I had eaten at and buildings I had perused right here at home were being shown in all their glory to the world. As a Singaporean, instead of sticking to our national pastime of complaining, how bout we just take this win. And props to the Singapore Tourism Board for making full use of such an opportunity.

Art

Jon M. Chu may have been plucked from obscurity in college into the world of film-making for the genius that Steven Spielberg saw in him, but this was not a man well known for his art. You knew Jon Chu directed films, but you never knew that a movie was a Jon Chu movie.

This movie though impressed me quite a bit with some of the filmography, artistic intent and creativity. The scene that really took my breath away was the wedding scene in the CHIJMES Chapel. It all starts with Kina Grannis’s angelic voice starting her cover of “Can’t Help Falling in Love”. To all the close up shots of the key characters where you could tell what was going on behind their eyes. And that little hint of Nic playing with the kids. But what really got me was when the water started to flow through the chapel, the lanterns lit up, the music stopped and (in slow motion) the bride started walking down the aisle. My heart just melted. Nothing more to be said here.

Awkwafina

There was no way anyone could have discussed this movie and not talked about how amazing Awkwafina was. Damn that girl was FIRE.

Not just her acting but if you’ve watched any of the interviews with director, Jon Chu, you would have heard the number of times he has mentioned that they had to cut large amounts of film because she kept riffing and coming up with her own lines. Which is just amazing. She gave the movie a huge dose of impeccable comedic timing, insane energy and drop down “I got to have the last word” zingers. That woman knows how to carry herself with style, swag and sass. Really hoping to see her featured much more in the upcoming sequel! (fingers crossed).

Its just a Movie

Yes it is just a movie. Even though director Jon M. Chu hoped that this would be a statement to the world and also showcase how an all Asian cast could make bank in Hollywood, you could tell from his statements that he was very pragmatic about the potential impact. At the end of the day, a movie, and especially a rom-com at that, is supposed to entertain an audience. And it did. So enough with all the hate, trolling and deep dissections of how this movie seemed to have failed society in so many ways. People seem to forget that change doesn’t happen overnight and that this was never gonna be the panacea to all of society’s problems of diversity and representation.

The movie has successfully shown that Asian/Asian-American centered stories can pull in huge crowds. Now we can hope that it has helped creak open the door for more Asian stories — from all regions and backgrounds — to get more attention in Hollywood. So how bout we all take a breath, have a chill pill and just enjoy the movie.