Crazy Rich Asians (*** out of five stars)

Currently in wide release

by Walter G. Tarrow

Alternate universes seem all the rage these days. Fake news has given way to fake reality. And in the midst of all the efforts being made to Make America Great Again, we are subjected to worlds on the silver screen where Black Wakandans have great technologically superior nations and Black Americans take down American institutions like the KKK.

And now, with Crazy Rich Asians, the Chinese are depicted as filthy rich and living in cities and homes that make America’s Best, America’s Elite, look like impoverished denizens of the Fourth World.

I’ll be honest. I despise the extremely wealthy. Especially those who possess it all and are ostentatiously obnoxious. Conspicuous consumers. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Dallas, New Jersey…America. I never understood the fascination with these shallow, cosmetically enhanced, overly costumed and accessorized, trollops other than maybe some schadenfreude from seeing them continuously slipping on metaphorical banana peels. Like Groucho and his brethren running roughshod over the hoity toity at some swanky affair.

I hate those rich who exploit. I hate those rich who tax the rest and give nothing of their own to help. I hate those rich who pander to the basest of the base to feed their own greed and power and egos. I hate those rich who build casinos and golf courses so they can languish in luxury while we foot the bill. And I especially hate those rich who never had to work hard, never had to sacrifice, and yet still feel they are entitled to our respect.

I hate those rich.

So imagine my distress, my suffering, my malaise, being subjected to over two hours of “Crazy Rich Asians,” set in a city, Singapore, inconceivably more impressive than any city within these United States, gathering for a wedding for the ages. And to start the offense, Rachel and Nick, the couple at the center of it, the best man and his girlfriend, arrive from New York aboard a nonstop flight that, as a “perk” for his family’s multi-billion dollar business, has them in first class which just happens to include a queen size bed. Why can’t I ever know perks like that? As if I’d even want them…

Based on a, reportedly satirical, bestseller, this film, with its formulaic, simplistic moral of the Humble giving the Prideful their comeuppance, fails in sending a message even slightly impactful while continuing to cater to the very same privileged they deride. We are left to connect the dots of satire on our own. Where are the Marx Brothers when we need them?

But I’m giving Crazy Rich Asians three stars because the production, the acting, the directing, and the emotional tone and humor were impressive. The film moved at a brisk pace, with gorgeous locations and settings (the wedding was to die for; the bride literally walked on water up to the altar), and the gags came fast and furious. Constance Wu, who sharpened her acting chops on TV’s Fresh Off the Boat, does a fine job as Rachel Chu, the less-than-crazy-rich American outsider. Outstanding among the supporting cast were Awkwafina as Rachel’s cleverly comic friend Peik Lin, and Ken Jeong (The Hangover) as Peik Lin’s dad, who were hilarious as a Singapore sendup to our trashy Real Housewives.

BUT, as an example of racism in the extreme, the only white people in the entire film are a handful of party animals gone wild at the bachelor party and posers at the wedding reception. Yet we shouldn’t be surprised that actors from this great nation of ours are ignored, excluded and discriminated against when the film began with a quote from Napoleon.

“China is a sleeping giant. Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move the world.”

Well, she’s awake, and it appears we’re not that great after all.