Awkwafina veers dramatically (literally) away from her rep as a rapper and comic for this serious role. She plays an Asian-American who returns to China with her family for one last visit with her grandmother, who’s been diagnosed with advanced cancer. The catch: because they believe that the news will do more harm than the disease, they can’t tell grandma. This leads Awkwafina to brood for the whole movie, almost never taking advantage of her comic abilities to add contrast that would make the heavy moments more poignant. Even so, this examination of family connections and cultural expectations is crafted as a sweet personal drama. English and Chinese with subtitles. (Criterion Cinemas only)
(3.5 / 5)