 |
 |
| Release Date: | March 25th, 2005 (US) - April 22nd, 2005 (UK) |
| Runtime: | 106 minutes |
| Rated: | PG-13 |
| Genres: | Comedy, Romance |
| Directed by: | Kevin Rodney Sullivan |
| Written by: | William Rose (motion picture Guess Who's Coming to Dinner), David Ronn (story & screenplay), Jay Scherick (story & screenplay), Peter Tolan (screenplay) |
| Starring: | Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Hal Williams, Kellee Stewart, RonReaco Lee |
|
 |
 The following statement may sound a little weird seeing as "That '70s Show" is my favorite television program, but I absolutely abhor Ashton Kutcher movies. The man has made a career out of acting in sub-par date bait. More power to him for changing in quality performances for the "safer", mediocre chick-flick cute guy roles he's taken on - it's a completely intelligent personal business move. I can respect it, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.
And I haven't liked it. Until last night.
Guess Who stars Kutcher as Simon Green, a hot-shot investor who's engaged to the lovely Theresa (Saldana). Problems arise when Simon quits his job the day he and Theresa are to leave to meet her parents, and it specifically doesn't bode well for Simon that her overbearing and overprotective father Percy (Mac) is expecting him to be a "brotha". Oh, I didn't mention that Simon is white and Theresa is black? Silly me.
I was very wary going into seeing this flick. Not only for the reason I stated above, but because Guess Who is a slapdash date comedy that also happens to be a remake of the 1967 seminal, classic exercise in social commentary Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Not exactly a sure-fire formula for success, but surprisingly it works.
The real highlight of this film - besides the not-so-bad-this-time acting of Ashton - is Bernie Mac. I've been a big fan of his since his turn as Uncle Vester in House Party 3 (screw you, I like it!), and this proves he's got what it takes to carry on a meaningful and legitimate movie role. Everyone else does fine jobs as well, although the black female characters are highly cliched - expect lots of head-shaking and sarcastic "Uh-huhs."
Speaking of cliches, that's the overall problem with this flick. Guess Who too often resorts to placing Kutcher in many awkward situations rife with the worst in "black people" cliche: they have nappy hair, love ribs, and, as I said before, the women are highly fiesty and sarcastic. But it also works the other way, with some of the reactions the black people have towards Kutcher's caucasian-ness bordering on downright sickening. I will admit that some of these scenarios do attempt to prove a point: while the social landscape of 1967 was one of racial bigotry towards blacks (the theme of the original), the world of 2005 finds that the nuts of racism don't fall too far from the tree, no matter what ethnicity you are.
All-in-all, Guess Who is an often funny and completely enjoyable way to waste an hour-and-a-half of your life. But I will warn you: if you have a bigoted bone in your body, whether you're black or white, you may get somewhat offended if not downright angered at some of the ideas and situations presented within. If that doesn't apply to you, go ahead and catch the video when it comes out. |
|
|
|
|
Chris Gaskey
Back to top