The much anticipated film adaptation of Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians is finally here. But does it prove the point that Asians can take the lead in a major Hollywood studio film without being type-cast in a martial arts role?

Well the box office has been positive, and a sequel is already on the way so that's a yes. But does the film hold up without the hype?

Yes it does. And while it dangerously flirts with a soap opera kind of storyline, and is full of tropes, they were able to do it in a fun and creative way. Also, while seeming to be over the top, the movie is actually grounded in reality.

A lot of that though is down to the source material since author Kevin Kwan based it with people he and his family knew while growing up in Singapore. Events portrayed in the movie do actually happen, and it is shown as a matter-of-fact instead of creating caricatures which could easily happen in a movie like this.

But what is so beautiful about it is how it captures how an old aristocratic Asian family or a typical Asian family really is behind closed doors. The numerous cousins and aunts who congregate around the "'main home," the way that everything centers on food, and the importance of the family recipe. Then, of course there is the portrayal of the strong family matriarch who enforces traditional values and to whom the family centers itself.

We see all of it through the eyes of an American of Chinese heritage, Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu), who is perplexed by the cultural divide. Her bewilderment of being brought into this upper crust world in the East is what brings audiences into the story. The casting is just as perfect with Constance being American-born, while the male lead – the wealthy Nick Young (played by Half British-Malaysian-born Henry Golding) – who, despite not being born to money like his character, is a model and TV host in Singapore and Asia at large. This means that he is familiar with the world shown on-screen. This gives their performances a lot of credence.

What about the legendary Michelle Yeoh who plays Eleanor Young, Nick's disapproving mother? She could easily have been a soap opera trope villain. Yeoh made her classy and there are times you could actually feel for her.

As for the bad parts, yes the film has plenty of flaws, but there are quite minor. Most of it is due to cultural nuances not shown in the film. I mean, we can't fit all of that in a movie right? The laser focus on Singapore's creme de la creme is what the movie is about so we can't really go into the core of what makes the city-state tick. This isn't an educational documentary, after all.

The dramatic moments lack intensity, the comedy is spot on, and the pacing is amazing and it is a fun ride. When the characters start dealing with their problems it gets bland, except maybe with Astrid  (Gemma Chan) who brings one of the most heated moments on screen. Her character is supposed to be ice, but she is able to bring her pain to the forefront now that is skill!

All in all, Crazy Rich Asians is a glitzy fun spectacle that will make you want more, thank goodness there is a sequel!