The reasons you should see “Crazy Rich Asian” that has nothing to do with race

Yes, “Crazy Rich Asian” is the first Hollywood movie with an all-Asian cast in 25 years and that’s worth celebrating, if you care about that…

But if that’s not that important to you, you should still go see it.

Because make no mistake, CRA is not just a good Asian-American film. It is a good movie period. It’s one of the best romantic comedies to come out of Hollywood in a long-time.

In fact, categorizing CRA as a romantic comedy doesn’t do it justice, because it’s not just a film for couples. It’s entertaining to see with friends, families, or by yourself.

Here’s why you should see the movie, if you’re a music lover, feminist, romantic, cosmopolitan, or just someone on the hunt for some fun, uplifting entertainment.

• CRA’s soundtrack is a hidden jewel. It is fun, eclectic, and unique. Once the movie started, the soundtrack quickly drew me into and immersed me in the movie. Every piece of music perfectly amplifies the scene it is played in. Taken as a whole, the soundtrack brilliantly fuses elements of east and west. The ensemble of artists and sounds come from so many genres and eras that it felt like I was getting an education in modern music history. Big band era jazz, transformative covers of “Yellow” and “Material Girl”, catchy modern rap from China and the US, and the most captivating rendition of “Can help falling in love” you’ll ever hear are only some of the gems. The full soundtrack stands on its own and I’ve been playing it as I work and rive. Check out the full soundtrack.
• The leading figures in the movie are clearly women. Rachel Chu, Astrid, and Eleanor are all complex figures facing their own struggles and challenges. They are strong, beautiful, and very much run the show. In contrast, the men were all simple and one dimensional, and honestly. This isn’t a movie where the men leads and the women fall in line. This is a movie where the women decides the fate of the men. It’s refreshing and awesome.
• It’s nice to be reminded of how simple love should and can be.
• Fight for what you believe in. Sacrifice for what you love. Besides love, CRA touches on many lessons on friendship, family, and happiness.
• “Bok bok bitch!” It’s one thing to have lessons, its another to make them memorable. The scripted and improvised dialogue for CRA holds many memorable lines.
• The laughs. Ken Jeong, Bernard Tai, Nico Santos, and Ronny Chieng are all hilarious. But once again, the woman shows up the men. Peik-Lin (played by the effervescent Awkwafina) is a riot. When she shows up, get ready to be entertained.
• The inspiring and behind the scenes stories. Reading the actors and director’s stories after watching the movie has given me even more appreciation for the film. Some of my favorites. The story behind getting permission to use Coldplay’s “Yellow” in the film, Awkwafina on Authenticity, Michelle Yeoh and 30 year’s of being bad ass, and Gemma Chan on female breadwinners.

You don’t have to be Crazy, Rich, or Asian to go watch “Crazy Rich Asian” in theaters.

Casting aside, the movie is so multi-faceted that it can be enjoyable for a broad spectrum of audiences. That is CRA’s crowning achievement and the number one reason to see the film.