Tag: Awkwafina

Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina make a delightful and dynamic duo in ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

Jeff Mitchell

“Raya and the Last Dragon” – “At its core, it’s an action movie.” – screenwriter Qui Nguyen, March 2, 2021 “Note to self, don’t die.” – Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) And how…and please don’t! In Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”, Raya (Tran) – an early-20-something – and her trusty companion Tuk Tuk – a 10-foot long, pill bug/armadillo-like, four-legged friend, who best resembles an organic Fiat 500 – carry us on a dazzling animated journey.  Their quest is to search for the last remaining dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), and find…

Say ‘Hello’ to ‘The Farewell’ on Awkwafina’s birthday

Jeff Mitchell

Happy Birthday, Awkwafina!  Actress, comedian, rapper, and all-around cool lady Awkwafina turns 32 on June 2, and there’s no time like the present to celebrate her work by watching director Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” (2019) again or for the first time. Wang’s autobiographical picture depicts her family’s choice to celebrate a wedding in China, but the affair is a ruse.  Billi’s (Awkwafina) grandmother Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen) only has a few months to live, so her relatives – led by her parents – stage a false marriage ceremony in order…

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ offers a wealth of fun but the script needed a tighter budget

Jeff Mitchell

“Crazy Rich Asians” – Singapore is a wondrous place.  Located just one degree above the equator in Southeast Asia, this small island city-state (only 31 miles by 17 miles) bustles as a massive business hub and hosts over five million residents.  Malay is Singapore’s single national language, but the country proudly boasts three additional official ones: English, Mandarin and Tamil.  The multi-lingual culture is no accident, because the island’s gorgeous, tropical beauty, towering skyscrapers and commercial importance are universal attractions. In director Jon M. Chu’s film, he wholly and beautifully…