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Movie review: Kris Aquino is a showstopper in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

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David Dizon, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/22/rich1.jpg"/><figcaption>Nick (Henry Golding) introduces his girlfriend Rachel (Constance Wu) to his mom Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh). <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Rich people have their problems but not like our own, and they deal with it differently. </p><p>In the very first scene of &quot;Crazy Rich Asians,&quot; Eleanor Sung-Young (played by &quot;Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon&quot; star Michelle Yeoh) and her family have just arrived at a London hotel but are refused a suite she had already reserved. One phone call later, she has already bought the hotel to the astonishment of the hotel staff who refused them service. </p><p>Speak softly, crush ‘em with your wallet. </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZQ-YX-5bAs0?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>&quot;Crazy Rich Asians&quot; introduces a familiar premise straight from Jane Austen: rich young heir Nick (Henry Golding) falls for NYU economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu of &quot;Fresh Off the Boat&quot;) and brings her home to Singapore to meet his family and attend his best friend’s wedding. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/22/rich2.jpg"/><figcaption>Shang Su Yi, Nick&#x27;s grandmother and the matriarch of the family, finally meets Rachel. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>What Rachel does not know is that her boyfriend is the scion of an uber-wealthy clan that pretty much built the infrastructure of Singapore. He’s not just rich, but crazy rich, and with that comes an avalanche of old-money expectations. </p><p>Director Jon M. Chu and screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim tell this story mostly from Rachel’s perspective. At the start of the story, she’s fascinated by her boyfriend’s seemingly magical ability to get first class tickets and a private suite for the flight to Singapore. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/22/rich4.jpg"/><figcaption>Rachel gets some help from Oliver and Goh Peik Lin (Awkwafina). <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>That’s only the beginning. Her college best friend Goh Peik Lin (a monstrously funny Awkwafina) also turns out to be nouveau riche, complete with gold-plated mansion inspired by Donald Trump’s bathroom. Goh’s family, however, are shocked that Rachel is a possible future bride for Singapore’s most eligible bachelor. Clearly, Rachel is in over her head. </p><p>And when she finally meets a disapproving Eleanor Young, her own background betrays her as a working class commoner with a shady past, unfit for Asian royalty. </p><p>Lucky for Rachel, she has the beautiful Astrid Leong-Teo (Gemma Chan), Nick’s cousin, who comes to her aid even though she has her own problems dealing with a philandering and proud husband. Also on her team is Goh, who provides the fast facts, the clothes and attitude that Rachel needs to earn some respect from the Young enclave. </p><p>She also gets help from self-confessed “rainbow sheep” Oliver T’sien (Filipino-American actor Nico Santos), Nick’s cousin, who is tasked to do various jobs by the Youngs including getting rid of gold-diggers. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/22/rich3.jpg"/><figcaption>Oliver (Nico Santos) gets his orders from Eleanor. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>&quot;Crazy Rich Asians&quot; doesn’t really break new ground story-wise but it does pack in the detail when it comes to the opulence and viciousness of its characters. Nick’s friend Colin has a bachelor party conducted in the middle of the ocean, complete with their own private helicopters. A bachelorette party has a free shopping spree and massages. Astrid buys a pair of rare pearl-drop earrings worth $1.2 million without batting an eyelash, and then keeps them hidden from her husband who is insecure about her wealth. A $40-million wedding is criticized by Eleanor’s posse as too lavish. “That’s too much. We’re Methodists, $20 million is our limit,” one friend declares. </p><p>And then of course, there’s Kris Aquino. With everything happening in the film, it was easy to forget that Aquino actually has a role in the movie. Replete in a yellow Michael Cinco gown, Aquino plays Princess Intan who is so rich that she has a whole row to herself at the wedding “so that she doesn’t have to be bothered by anyone.” Aquino’s role is short but a showstopper. </p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/news/08/22/rich5.jpg"/><figcaption>Princess Intan (Kris Aquino) is charmed by Rachel&#x27;s knowledge about her article on micro-loans. <em>Handout</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>After being refused a seat at the family pew, Rachel converses freely with Princess Intan about the latter&#x27;s article on micro-loans designed to help women in need and they bond. Now that&#x27;s major comeuppance for the snobs. </p><p>What sets this film apart is the dynamic between Rachel and Eleanor: the tiger mom vs the perceived usurper. Yeoh layers Eleanor’s character with a surprising amount of depth: she herself was rejected by her husband’s mother as unworthy but fought for her place in the family. Rachel, though deemed lacking, is given the final choice on whether to accept Nick’s wedding proposal or leave him. And she doesn&#x27;t back down from the challenge. </p><p>It all comes to a head with a game of mahjong between Rachel and Eleanor. Expect tears, even if the final outcome was never in doubt. Now, on to the sequel! </p>

<p>With everything happening in the film, it was easy to forget that Kris Aquino actually has a role in the movie.</p>

With everything happening in the film, it was easy to forget that Kris Aquino actually has a role in the movie.

Movie review: Kris Aquino is a showstopper in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

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Movie review: Kris Aquino is a showstopper in 'Crazy Rich Asians'

David Dizon,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 22, 2018 12:31 PM PHT

Read More:

movie review

Kris Aquino

Crazy Rich Asians

Michelle Yeoh

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