When Kevin Kwan published Crazy Rich Asians in 2013, he invited readers into a glittering world of Singapore’s elite - an universe of dynastic wealth, tangled family politics, and an endless parade of couture labels. Five years later, Jon M. Chu’s film adaptation transformed the page into one of Hollywood’s most dazzling modern romantic comedies. Both the book and the film tell the same Cinderella tale of Rachel Chu, an exceptionally intelligent yet somewhat naive Chinese-American professor finding out that her boyfriend belongs to one of the wealthiest families in Singapore, but they diverge in tone, details, and character portrayal. One story, two flavors: the book is salty caviar gossip and burning hot tea, while the film is champagne glamour, sparkling and irresistible.

​

I like to think of the film not as an usual adaptation but as a remake loosely based on Kwan’s storyline - remixed for maximum cinematic sparkle. In the novel, the Youngs embody the saying: “Money talks, wealth whispers.” They are untouchable, unseen, unknown - even Peik Lin’s family, wealthy in their own right, had never heard of them. On screen, though, the secrecy is gone: the Youngs are practically Singapore royalty, their name whispered with awe at dinner tables, their palatial mansions and extravagant lifestyle the main course of every Saturday’s brunch. That shift makes Rachel’s entrance all the more scandalous: a total outsider, from heritage to family background, stepping straight into the spotlight. My favorite character Astrid, meanwhile, gets a serious glow-up. Unlike the novel, film Astrid refuses to bend to her adulterous husband’s insecurity, delivering the unforgettable line: “It’s not my job to make you feel like a man. I can’t make you something you’re not.” Then there’s Eleanor. On the page, she’s manipulative, somewhat vain, even desperate, clinging to status and groveling before wealthier individuals. On screen, Michelle Yeoh transforms her into a woman of elegance, though not without faults. However, her disapproval of Rachel feels less like petty snobbery and more like it was coming from the wisdom of a mother who had been through it all, and was only protecting her son’s future and preserving her family’s past. The effect of these changes is striking: where the book slightly leans soap opera, the film reframes the story around legacy, resilience, and the dazzling high stakes of love colliding with old money.

​

Of course, some sacrifices had to be made. With only two modest hours of screen time, the film trims much of the novel’s delicious drama. Gone are Rachel’s expanded backstory, all the twists and turns, and the endless webs of gossip and scandal. The background characters, whose roles in the books were prominent, contributing to the intricate side plots, became mere decorative elements in the high-society atmosphere of the film. The film slips into the same old Hollywood cliché of Cinderella - “rich guy saving poor girl.”, sacrificing one of the novel’s biggest strengths of unconventional plot, and unfortunately toning down its “juiciness”. 

​

Still, I’m firmly Team Film. Astrid gets the arc she deserves. Eleanor becomes aspirational rather than selfish. Rachel and Astrid’s sisterly bond shines through. And Peik Lin’s family? Comedy gold, with the added warmth and humanity that made the film complete. And then there’s the glamour: totally the modern Asian Gasby. Colin and Araminta’s wedding might be one of the most extravagant and magical on-screen weddings of all time. Believe it or not, I might have even shed a few tears as Araminta walked down the aisle to Can’t Help Falling in Love, water rippling at her feet - who wouldn’t dream of a $30 million wedding after watching that?

​

At the end of the day, neither Kwan’s novel nor Chu’s film is meant to be dissected as Great Literature or Great Cinema. They serve their purpose as entertainment - joyful and interesting. The book thrives on juicy drama and scandal; the movie thrives on aesthetic pleasure and immersive escapism. And honestly? In a world where the odds of any of us crashing a crazy rich Asian wedding hover around zero, I’ll gladly take the vibes over the gossip.