Crazy Rich Asians is the first movie telling a modern story with an all-Asian cast and an Asian-American lead in 25 years. The last The Joy Luck Club was in 1993.

It features two leads new to movies – Constance Chu as Rachel Wu a college professor is best known for TV series Fresh off the Boat, and Henry Golding who plays her love interest Nick Young last worked as a travel host for the BBC.

It’s a Cinderella story about an Asian-American New York woman meeting her boyfriend’s colourful and crazy rich family for the first time in their home of Singapore. After a year of dating, her first inkling that he is from a wealthy family comes as the couple arrive at the airport and check in to a first class suite for the trip.

Based on a best-selling book series by Kevin Kwan which has sold over a million copies in 20 languages, the film follows hot on the heels of titles like Straight Outta Compton, Creed, Get Out, Girls Trip and Black Panther that through solid box office numbers have demonstrated that audiences are keen for a different flavour to Mark Wahlberg and Jason Statham. It’s funny AND moving.

If the mah-jong scene doesn’t have you in tears, you need to take a long hard look at yourself…

Funny. Moving. The Whole Box and Dice

4 Stars