Nerdotopia

The film, adapted from Kevin Kwan’s bestselling novel, is insightful in its depiction of cultural and class clashes that spring up when a man takes his New York girlfriend to meet his affluent, disapproving Singapore family. And yet, director Jon M. Chu undercuts his modern-day Cinderella story’s poignancy and warmth by badgering us with a nonstop materialistic worldview, sending mixed messages about whether love or money matters more. Chinese-American New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), a NYU economics professor who has been dating the handsome, sensitive Nick Young (Henry Golding) for more than a year, will be traveling with him, to his Singapore hometown to be at his friend’s wedding, and he wants to take the opportunity to introduce his family to Rachel — a big step in their relationship. But when they land, Rachel hastily discovers he comes from one of Asia's most wealthy, prominent families. A commoner among the social e...