The Farewell

The Farewell has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Stan, and in the UK on Amazon Prime Video. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Awkwafina is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

The Farewell is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The Farewell does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family's decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time. Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2019. The timing in The Farewell is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, The Farewell is a strong candidate. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Awkwafina anchors an ensemble with real chemistry. Genuinely funny, consistently, across the whole run.