Every year, Hollywood releases the newest batch of fresh rom-coms with characters and plots that hope to make it onto the must-see list. Though not many succeed, this year’s selection of rom-coms have been extra special. For the first time in decades, new films featuring Asian-American leads and casts have been released, and they have been more successful than anyone could’ve imagined. As an Asian-American woman and lover of rom-coms, I watched all of these new films (multiple times) with much joy and anticipation.
Here is my review of two of the staple rom-coms of 2018:
1. Crazy Rich Asians
It’s a well-known fact that Crazy Rich Asians is the first Hollywood film with an all-Asian cast since The Joy Luck Club, but what does this really mean for the Asian-American community? For myself, and other Asian-American women I’m sure, it was neither a norm nor even an expectation to see other women who looked like me on the big screen. But after seeing Rachel Chu elegantly balance the social and cultural pressures of being an Asian-American woman, I, for the first time in my life, felt proud of my heritage.
Rather than being the math nerd, social outcast or character with the accent, my people were portrayed as the brilliant economics professor, sophisticated billionaire heiress and sexy bachelorette. In other words, Crazy Rich Asians gave the Asian-American community a dimensional personality and a complex story that involves so much more than the generic immigration tale.
I am, in many ways, very grateful for this film. There is no denying that Asian-American representation in Hollywood was virtually nonexistent for too long, and Crazy Rich Asians set the bar high for future films to come. If you haven’t seen it already, this box office topper is definitely a must-see! This film is packed with all emotions, but above all else, I guarantee that you’ll walk out of the theatre feeling more empowered than ever before.
2. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before
Based on Jenny Han’s bestselling novel, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a coming-of-age romance story about how a young girl’s love letters lead her to find true love. With an Asian-American actress, Lana Condor, as the lead, this rom-com was highly anticipated by the Asian-American community. Though the chemistry between all characters is undoubtedly spot-on, and the story line is perfect for a feel-good rom-com, I was disappointed by the lack of or deletion of cultural elements in the film.
For instance, in the novel, the protagonist, Lara Jean, and her two half-Korean sisters take their mother’s last name and call themselves the ‘Song Sisters,’ but in the movie, they are only known as the ‘Covey Sisters,’ taking on their father’s last name. In the book, their label as the ‘Song Sisters’ plays a major role in their cultural ties with Korea, which seem to be forgotten or disregarded in the movie.
Even though I personally believe that this movie could’ve done more for the Asian-American community, Lana Condor’s role as the lead of a Netflix rom-com is a milestone for Asians in Hollywood. Regardless, I recommend this rom-com to anyone who’s in the mood for a heartwarming tale about first love.