Guess Who
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Movie Reviews of Guess Who
Movie Review: Terrific Comedy in the Backdrop of Racial Issues...
Summary: 4 Stars
Almost forty years after the Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) a remake is appropriate with the same racial theme, but this time the situation is reversed. It is time for the Caucasian, Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher), to visit his future African-American family-in-law for the first time. Much has changed since 1967 when Sidney Poitier visited Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn, yet some of the racial tensions still linger within the society. Kevin Rodney Sullivan, who some recognize from How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), decides to bring comic relief into these racial tensions.
The stress of visiting ones future father-in-law can be overwhelming. On top of this stress, Simon quits his prestigious job at the investment firm JP Oliver, an obvious allusion towards JP Morgan. In addition, Simon does not inform his fiancée Theresa Jones (Zoe Saldana) about his recent unemployment while they plan on telling her parents about their engagement at the parents 25th Wedding Anniversary. Simon manages the situation very well, a sign that he has a very high stress level. However, his stress level is about to be tested when he is about to meet Theresa's overly protective father, Percy Jones (Bernie Mac), for the first time.
Meanwhile, Percy checks out Simon's credit history, as he is a bank loan officer, and this impresses him. Percy is also excited about Simon working at JP Oliver, but does not know that he has quit. Bernie Mac, who often comes across a grand character, does a good job here down-playing his strong persona. This helps the film deliver a better cinematic experience, as the focus is on all the members of the family.
The first encounter between Simon and Percy is a scene with mixed identities, which will certainly bring the audience to laughter. The film continues to play with situational comedy that seems familiar with the comedy on many sitcoms. Nonetheless, there are moments when the comedy actually elevates beyond sitcom level, and even brings a tear to the eye. It is important that the audience does not forget the power of laughter, as it can help bring people together. Sullivan does exactly this with Guess Who where he lets the comedy do the talking while presenting the racial issues.
There are several situations in the film where Sullivan presents interesting notions in regards to human differences such as in the cab on the way to Theresa's parents and the night when they have supper together with Theresa's grandfather. These situations deliver numerous opportunities to further extend to the racial tensions within the society. Unfortunately, the film does not take any risks by exploring these new territories, which leaves the film behind from being a finer cinematic experience. Even so, the film succeeds in presenting an enjoyable film that can continue to soften the rigid notions that still linger within society.
Movie Review: Kutcher's Kutcher, but Bernie Mac makes this entertaining
Summary: 4 Stars
I hate to admit that I actually watched an Ashton Kutcher movie (but, in my defense, it did have the very funny Bernie Mac in it), much less that I actually enjoyed it. Not for Kutcher, of course, who makes Keanu Reeves look like a master thespian, but despite him. Bernie Mac pretty much carries the movie single-handedly; every scene without him is something of a chore to get through.
The premise is very simple. Percy Jones (Bernie Mac) is quite horrified when his daughter Theresa (Zoe Saldana) brings home her new boyfriend for her parents' twenty-fifth anniversary celebration. Percy had checked up on our boy Simon Green (Kutcher) and was quite encouraged by his credit report and the fact that he worked for a prestigious investment firm (at least, he did work for a prestigious investment firm - but he quit just before making the trip to meet his prospective in-laws, a fact that no one, including Theresa, knows about yet). Simon isn't what he was expecting at all, though - not by a long shot. It has a lot to do with the fact that Simon is white, but let's face it - every father's worst nightmare is the thought of his baby girl bringing Ashton Kutcher home with her. It's not even completely about race; the boy is just not right in the head, and Percy thinks he's hiding something (which he is). This father takes extraordinary steps to make sure Simon and his little girl don't get up to any hanky-panky there in his house - and who can blame him for that? As the days pass, things don't get any better, much comic hilarity ensues (capped off with a round of ethnic jokes told around the dinner table), and there's a big row that temporarily splits up both couples. Wouldn't it be funny if, just once, a movie didn't go for the pat, obvious ending? I think it would, but we'll have to wait a little longer to know for sure because Guess Who plays out just as you knew it would.
This is a comedy, and it doesn't try to be anything more than that. Without Bernie Mac, it would have flopped like a fish out of water, but Bernie Mac can make anything funny, even scenes with Ashton Kutcher. He really ought to get some kind of award for that - maybe a special Oscar for actually making an Ashton Kutcher film funny and enjoyable.
Movie Review: Charming Film
Summary: 4 Stars
Disappointed by Meet The Fokkers, we were at first hesitant to get Guess Who. After reading reviews here, I was even more prepared to find another trite, tasteless bit of film fluff.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this to be a very well done and touching film, in spite of its comedic overtones.
Bernie Mac gives one of his best performances yet, as the seemingly stern, overprotective and loving Percy Jones. In spite of his gruff and cranky surface, inside lies the soul of a man deeply committed to his home and family. His role plays off beautifully against Judith Scott as his wife. Although I felt hers was one of the weakest roles in the film, she managed to be the ideal foil for Percy.
Much has been said about the trite or superficial stereotypical racial handling of the subject matter in this film. I disagree. I found it to be one of the more realistic films of this type. Both Percy and Simon (Ashton Kutcher) create tensions relating to his being white in a very understated manner. The producers didn't go for the easy, but rather created a quieter tension, that leaves the viewer wondering how much is the dislike between Simon and Percy motivated by race or by other things entirely.
Simons fiancee, Zoe Saldana gives a fine sensitive performance as the daughter torn between needing her fathers approval and her deepening love for Simon. She's an actress to watch, I believe she has a great untapped range in her, that should lead to bigger, deeper roles.
This is a great film for whiling away a hot summers afternoon. The only problem I found with Guess Who, came near the end, where Percy's female in-laws, take the moral high ground and in what I feel was the only truly racist stereotyping of the entire film occurs.
I recommend this film for it's low key humor, thoughtful performances, and for the sheer pleasure of watching Bernie Mac hit his stride.
Movie Review: Good Grief!
Summary: 4 Stars
Wow, the reviews panning this cute and entertaining film absolutely overwhelm me. Folks, lighten up! This is not a remake of "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner"; it does borrow the premise from that Sixties classic of an interracial relationship, and a father having a hard time coming to grips with it. But aside from that, GUESS WHO stands wonderfully on its own merits--and should be judged accordingly.
Bernie Mac as stern and proud papa Percy Jones steals every scene he's in, which is fine with me, as the actor has amazing comedic timing and panache. Percy and his wife Marilyn (Judith Scott) are celebrating their 25th anniversary by renewing their wedding vows; on top of that, their eldest daughter Theresa (played by a very attractive Zoe Saldana) is bringing her boyfriend home from New York. Percy just knows his baby girl is in love with a man just like himself: aggressive, hardnosed, athletic. . .and black. So when he actually meets his daughter's love interest, a somewhat nerdy guy named Simon (Ashton Kutcher)--a nerdy guy who's white--well, let's just say that's when all the fun starts.
And there's plenty of fun in GUESS WHO, as father and boyfriend square off in a battle of wits that had me howling with laughter. This is a very funny film; some of the scenes, including the go-kart race and the family dinner, were hysterical. This is a lighthearted comedy that will also warm your heart; for those expecting an epic to compare with Tracy and Hepburn, get a grip.
--D. Mikels
Movie Review: Kutcher and Mac star in this funny comedy
Summary: 4 Stars
Guess Who is a Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher comedy that bears no resemblance to the 1967 Guess Whose Coming to Dinner starring Sydney Poitier. I haven't seen the original but understand it was more of a drama and socially revelant. The 2005 version shares the plot of a white guy with a black girlfriend coming home to meet the girl's family. This movie however, is straight comedy, played for laughs. There could have been some uncomfortable racial situations, but there weren't.
I enjoyed this movie a lot. Kutcher plays Simon, who is dating Theresa and she is black. She takes him home meet her family without telling her family Simon is white. Bernie Mac, playing the over protective father Percy, can't believe his daughter is dating a white boy and sets out to make Simon's stay at the house as uncomfortable as possible. The scenes between Simon and Percy are the best. Theresa's character takes a back seat in this movie. She exists because she has too.
This is a fun movie that is straight comedy. There are few moments that try to comment on the problems of interracial relationships, but the movie quickly moves on to another scene of Kutcher or Mac hamming it up from the camera. Don't hold it against this movie that it is a remake of a classic. It isn't trying to be better than the original. It is mainly just borrowing the plot which is a good one and great one for pure comedy.