Guess Who

April 30, 2005 - This 2005 comedy is based on (I don't know if it qualifies as a remake) the 1967 movie Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. This time, the girl and her family are black and the person coming to dinner is white. Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher and Zoe Saldana star.

Mac plays Percy Jones, a successful bank loan officer about to celebrate his 25th wedding anniversary by renewing his vows with his wife Marilyn, played by Judith Scott. Saldana is Terri, daughter #1, a successful photographer who's just gotten engaged to Simon Green (Kutcher), a successful corporate trader. Terri has told her parents about her boyfriend - he's employed, smart funny, etc. But, she hasn't told them that he's white. And, they're saving news of their engagement as a surprise.

When they show up, mom Marilyn is cool but dad Percy goes a little ballistic. He gets past the color part but is convinced that Simon is hiding something, which he is. He quit his job because his boss is racist, but he hasn't told Terri.

Overall review: ** Funnier than I thought it would be, I actually laughed out loud at some spots. And, Ashton Kutcher is very personable. But, the movie was very uneven. It would roll along for a while then come to a complete stop. Then, it would pick up again then stop. And so on.

I'm also not sure the premise still works. Back in the 60s, interracial couples were something of a rarity. Today, no one seems to care, at least not in the northeast where the movie is set. Maybe if it were set in the rural south?

And, one technical thing bothered me. Terri, the daughter, is supposed to be a professional photographer. Yet, at one point in the movie, she takes a picture of her father sitting in front of a window! And, she uses a flash! She oughta know better.