Crazy Big Joy: Crazy Rich Asians Opens Today!
The big day is finally here! The film adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel opens today!
"Crazy Rich Asians" follows the story of New Yorker and Chinese American Rachel Chu, her trip with her boyfriend Nick to his native Singapore, and the familial (mis)adventures along the way.
The movie version is historic. It’s the first major studio production in 26 years that stars an all-Asian cast, and the second in all of Hollywood history (the first was "The Joy Luck Club"). The actors represent the Asian diaspora, coming from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Australia, the U.K., and the U.S.
That’s a lot of reason to celebrate, which is what we’ve been doing all month. With fun and inspirational quotes; a ticket giveaway (congrats again to winners @karenfoto, @diane_thefoodie, @binaricorn, @amylynnsay, and @mmmcravings!); and of course lots of fan-personing.
We were also lucky enough to see a sneak preview last week. The verdict? We loved it! We laughed, we cried. We laughed and cried some more.
We also love the story behind the creation of both the book and movie. From Kwan’s finding joy in writing about Singapore after the illness and death of his father. To his refusing to whitewash his heroine, Rachel Chu, after the novel was optioned. To director Jon M. Chu’s approaching his agent about the book the very day the script had been sent to him. To Chu mindblowingly making an appearance in Kwan’s book. The Chinese American Hollywood director mentioned in passing? “That’s you,” Kwan told him. It turned out he knew one of Chu’s NYC cousins. (Maybe Asians do all know each other!)
And most of all, the movie’s creators turning down crazy big money from Netflix to bring "Crazy Rich Asians" to the big screen, realizing its historic impact and the need for it to be experienced on a grand Hollywood scale. “To be on the biggest stage with the biggest stakes,” Chu said.
They’ve done their part. Now it’s time to do yours! FILL 👏 THOSE 👏 SEATS 👏! You'll love it. You can even call us crazy if you don’t.