Movie 2018.08.22 - Crazy Rich Asians

I've got the ebook, but haven't had time to read it, so watched the movie knowing nothing about it. Of course, except for the usual FB hype as to which actors are in the movie, why it's such a big deal in Hollywood, etc. etc.

To be honest, it was better than I expected it to be. I thought the movie is going to be an extended YouTube video of how the fuerdai spend their hard-earned wealth - the extravagant parties, the exotic vacations, the flashy cars, the one-of-a-kind luxury items, etc. Yeah, it has a bit of those, but surprise! - it actually has a story.

Crazy rich Nick brings poor professor girlfriend Rachel to meet the family, without telling her how wealthy the family is. Mom Eleanor disapproves because she thinks she's not good enough - not a real Chinese. Grandma disapproves because she feels she is the reason Nick is hesitant to come back home for good and take over the family business. All the girls disapprove because she is competition. To fluff up the movie a bit more, we have a crazy rich bachelorette party at a private island resort, a crazy rich stag party on a container ship, a crazy rich wedding at Chijmes, and a crazy rich engagement party at the Marina Bay Sands. Throw in an extramarital affair to add more drama.

In the end, Rachel managed to use game theory (or was that reverse psychology) to make Eleanor change her mind about her and bring about a win-win outcome. Nick proposes to Rachel with Eleanor's own engagement ring, and everyone lives happily ever after. Well, everyone except for unfaithful Michael who lost his golden ticket in Astrid.