By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Nov. 20, unless otherwise noted: Crazy Rich Asians (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, suggestive and sexual situations, language The lowdown: This summer feature is a bouncy and bubbly rom-com that holds the distinction of being the first Hollywood studio film in more than two decades to present an all-Asian cast. The movie also features a cliched rich-boy—poor-girl storyline and stereotypical characters. But that simply points up a universal truism that, though we all are not alike on the outside, inside, we share the same heart and emotional makeup. The movie is about Nick Young (Henry Golding) and Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), who have been dating for a year. Rachel teaches economics at New York University and Nick, well, we never really learn what Nick does. Nick is flying back to Singapore for the wedding of his best friend and asks Rachel to accompany him to meet his family. She agrees and is floored, after arriving, to discover her boyfriend comes from the richest family in Singapore. Rachel suffers culture shock as she realizes the wealth and breadth of Nick’s family. She also is taken aback by the cold reception she receives from Nick’s mother, Eleanor. She assumed that, because her heritage is Chinese, the family would embrace her. But as an Asian-American, she is considered an outsider whose values are not aligned with Oriental tenets. Rachel is constantly reminded of the respect and adherence to tradition that serves as the foundation for Chinese families. Sure, the movie is conventional, but the lively cast and entertaining characters distract you from the movie’s familiarity. in a sense, the movie does lack originality. But that simply amplifies that we all are brothers and sisters under the skin. The vast majority of critics agreed, giving the movie a 92 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.
New to View: Nov. 20
New to View: Nov. 20
New to View: Nov. 20
By Bob Bloom The following titles are being released on Tuesday, Nov. 20, unless otherwise noted: Crazy Rich Asians (Blu-ray + DVD + digital) Details: 2018, Warner Home Video Rated: PG-13, suggestive and sexual situations, language The lowdown: This summer feature is a bouncy and bubbly rom-com that holds the distinction of being the first Hollywood studio film in more than two decades to present an all-Asian cast. The movie also features a cliched rich-boy—poor-girl storyline and stereotypical characters. But that simply points up a universal truism that, though we all are not alike on the outside, inside, we share the same heart and emotional makeup. The movie is about Nick Young (Henry Golding) and Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), who have been dating for a year. Rachel teaches economics at New York University and Nick, well, we never really learn what Nick does. Nick is flying back to Singapore for the wedding of his best friend and asks Rachel to accompany him to meet his family. She agrees and is floored, after arriving, to discover her boyfriend comes from the richest family in Singapore. Rachel suffers culture shock as she realizes the wealth and breadth of Nick’s family. She also is taken aback by the cold reception she receives from Nick’s mother, Eleanor. She assumed that, because her heritage is Chinese, the family would embrace her. But as an Asian-American, she is considered an outsider whose values are not aligned with Oriental tenets. Rachel is constantly reminded of the respect and adherence to tradition that serves as the foundation for Chinese families. Sure, the movie is conventional, but the lively cast and entertaining characters distract you from the movie’s familiarity. in a sense, the movie does lack originality. But that simply amplifies that we all are brothers and sisters under the skin. The vast majority of critics agreed, giving the movie a 92 percent fresh rating at Rottentomatoes.com.