WIG REVIEW: CRAZY RICH ASIANS
I saw the preview for the movie basically before every other movie I saw this summer. And I didn’t particularly want to see it because it just looked like completely ridiculous escapist nonsense. Now months later (and almost a month after it came out?) I finally saw it and yes: it is completely ridiculous escapist nonsense and I absolutely loved every minute of it. There is one wig! To be discussed.
So this movie is about incredibly attractive rich people and their problems. The main difference between it and any other movie with the same plot is, of course, that this movie stars 100% Asian people and representation matters so amen. The plot involves this really pretty chick dating a really pretty dude in NYC. But the big surprise is that he’s not only super attractive, but super duper rich! A fact that he neglects to tell her when they go to Singapore and meet his family and she realizes that she’s dating the Asian equivalent to Prince Harry. However, her family is so not ready to Meghan Markle her and actually think she is TRASH because she isn’t a billionaire heiress. Essentially, this is Pretty Woman, except the 2018 Singapore version of a hooker is an NYU economics professor. What a world!
There are many other plot points about beautiful rich people being sad but who cares because those parts are boring so let’s focus on the true star of this movie: AWKWAFINA AND THIS GODDAMNED WIG! Awkafina plays the college roommate of the Asian Meghan Markle/Julia Roberts character and basically steals the whole goddamned movie with hilarity and FASHION.
Ken Jeong plays Awkwafina’s dad (in a superior pompadour might I add) and calls Awkwafina’s lewk “Asian Ellen” which is not incorrect and might be a compliment? Anyway the point is that this wig is kinda supposed to be ridiculous and I am here for it because this movie truly works when it realizes how ridiculous it is. LEAN IN.
The wig is not bad! The texture and lack of uniformity are good. The one sometimes sloppy part is the back taper (an issue with 99% of all man wigs and short wigs) but for the most part this just looks like a bad dye job - which is the point!
It should be noted that Awkwafina’s character essentially wears high fashion pajamas through the entire movie which is LIVING THE DREAM. It also draws upon a best friend portrayal from another escapist film of yore - GLITTER - in which Da Brat wears fancy pajamas to a fancy party and if this movie is drawing upon Glitter as inspiration then AMEN.
Also Awkwafina rolls up to fancy parties not only in fancy pajamas, but making this face. YES.
To be fair, Awkwafina does change into cocktail fashion stored in the trunk of her car for the fancy parties and with the help of Asian Ross Matthews (in the middle), helps Asian Julia Roberts into some VERY EXPENSIVE fancy clothes so she can be taken seriously by Asian Prince Harry’s family. Basically Awkwafina plays the best gal pal AND the fairy godmother all while looking amazing so YES.
Thus we are gifted with makeover montages like this and honestly - is there anything better in a movie than a makeover montage? NO.
Throughout, Awkwafina and her ridiculous wig and perfect fashion choices remain the best part of the movie.
Though I will give a shoutout to Jimmy O. Yang (aka Jian Yang in Silicon Valley) for some choice acting in International Waters.
I also highly recommend watching this movie with a theater crowd who appreciates the unintentional hilarity in what they are watching. For instance, in this scene depicting a $40 million dollar wedding which involves a lot of emotion onscreen translated to a theater of full on laughter which I was HERE FOR.
This summer has already brought us another escapist fantasy in the form of a chardonnay soaked caftan (aka Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!) so I guess this one is in the form of a fun blonde wig and pajamas as daywear. Ok!
Amen.
VERDICT: WURQS
