Crazy Rich Asians: A potential trailblazer for diverse cinema?

Crazy Rich Asians is setting up to not only potentially be the breakout comedy of the summer, but a potential trailblazer for the increased presence of diversity for mainstream American cinema.

Mainstream cinema, specifically in America, has had a reputation for boasting an air of progressiveness when it comes to the many films that are birthed from it. There’s no shortage of mainstream American films to boast a diverse filmmaking cast and crew. Even just last year, we witnessed two incredibly creative and diverse darlings in the Oscar-nominated romantic dramedy, The Big Sick, and the Oscar-winning horror satire, Get Out. While there are other recent examples, I’m pointing to these specific titles as diverse films that have experienced both critical and commercial success. Now in 2018, Asian cinema will get a chance to make its mark in Hollywood with the new romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians.

Featuring a large Asian cast at its core, Crazy Rich Asians is bursting through our doors with oomph and confidence that make the film feel appealing right from the start. Based on the novel of the same name by Kevin Kwan, this romantic comedy has managed to acquire a sizable following for its charm and its inclusion into mainstream American pop culture. Now being adapted into a film, Crazy Rich Asians looks to make its mark on the American market, with help from Warner Bros.

Meeting the family?

More from Movies

• The story of a French emperor: Here’s where Napoleon will stream after theaters
• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes honors its origins and far surpasses them
• Thanksgiving movie death toll: Why [SPOILER] is still alive
• No, Thanksgiving is not streaming yet (But here’s where it’ll land)
• Trolls Band Together soundtrack guide: Which songs play in the movie?

Crazy Rich Asians focuses on the familiar tale of meeting your significant other’s eccentric family, as the film focuses on Rachel Chu, played by Constance Wu, meeting the incredibly wealthy family of her slick, hotshot boyfriend, Nick Young, played by Henry Golding. What follows is quirky familial hijinks that promises to be a fun time in the cinema, if the newly released trailer is any indication of what to expect.

The fish-out-water concept is a familiar trope of many mainstream films, from comedies to superhero films to even horror with last year’s Get Out. Crazy Rich Asians seems fairly aware of its familiar premise, but the cracking energy of the trailer paints a film that’s willing to jump in with charisma and a lovable story to introduce several aspects of Asian culture to a mainstream audience in America.

A refreshing change of pace or a pandering comedy?

Arguably the most refreshing aspect of Crazy Rich Asians is its apparent lack of pandering to an American audience. Yes, many aspects of American mainstream cinema are present, from the new-age, mile-a-minute comedic style to the incredibly modern personalities of our main characters, but as a whole, the trailer gives off a comforting vibe that is essential in bringing in an audience come late Summer. The film doesn’t appear to have any trace of a “woke” speech plastered in there for the sake of beating a message into the brain, unlike Blockers.

Next: A24: The 10 best films to be released by the company

Instead, Crazy Rich Asians is positioning itself as a wildly fun, and possibly smart romantic comedy that respects its audience to not talk down to them with a message. Sure, there’s a chance the film could fail to meet its admittedly high expectations, judging from the hype train this film is starting to chug along with, but it’s hard to envision that with the warm and fun atmosphere the trailer emitted.

If all goes well with both critics and general audience members, Crazy Rich Asians could potentially be this year’s The Big Sick. This highlights the increasingly progressive attitude of mainstream American cinema with a refreshing spin on the romantic comedy and an enlightened, and hopefully entertaining perspective on class structure in Asia.

Crazy Rich Asians will be released in the United States on August 17, 2018.