Controversy has resurfaced over the 2015 romantic comedy “Aloha” and its handling of an Asian-American character. The star-filled movie directed by Cameron Crowe is coming to the streaming service Netflix this September. Its arrival reopens discussion about casting choices and representation in Hollywood.
When it premiered, “Aloha” disappointed at the box office and with critics. In it, Bradley Cooper plays a military contractor who returns to Hawaii. There, he gets caught in a love triangle involving his ex Rachel McAdams and Air Force pilot Allison Ng, played by Emma Stone. Ng’s background is described as part Native Hawaiian, part Chinese, and part Swedish. Stone’s casting upset some who said it ignored authentic Asian representation.
This “whitewashing” distracted from the movie. It made only $26 million on a $37-52 million budget and earned a low 20% rating from reviews. Both Stone and Crowe later addressed the controversy. Crowe said the character was based on a real mixed-race local. Stone expressed regret for taking the role and learned about “the insane history of whitewashing” from it.
Since then, diversity in film has seen more attention. The 2019 Golden Globes even jokingly mentioned “Aloha” when talking about Asian portrayals. Now on Netflix, how will viewers react? While the story and production faced criticism, the years since have focused more on inclusion. Whether streaming finds “Aloha” a new audience remains unseen. But its discussion ensures considerations of representation in Hollywood continue evolving.
