Customer Reviews

Guess Who [VHS]

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(17)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I haven't seen a movie like this for years. It is full of comedy and you will keep laughing if you have a good sense of humor with open mind. The reason that many people here have given negative points is because it deals with the subject which makes many people uncomfortable, but as I said that if you watch this movie with open mind, you will definitely love it. The story is about a black girl (Zoe Saldana) who is in love with a white boy (Ashton Kutcher) and wants to announce their engagement on her parent's 25th marriage anniversary. Her dad (Bernie Mac) won't approve the white guy, not because he is a racist, but also uncomfortable about his daughter's relation with him. The movie is all fun, can be watched with family and as said before will keep everyone laughing.

Bernie Mac's character as Percy Jones is awesome, and he the one character you will keep watching the movie for. Ashton Kutcher, is all right and improvement in his acting is evident. Other actors are ok. Overall, this movie should not be missed, and please...don't take the jokes in the movie seriously.

I did NOT have high hopes for this, when it was marketed as an Ashton Kutcher comedy based on a switcheroo on the "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" premise. Girlfriend Theresa and Simon (Kutcher's part) return to her home for her parents' 25th wedding anniversary, but she has neglected to tell her parents he is white. It just wasn't clear to me that when an upscale black girl brings home a goofy white guy hilarity would automatically ensue.

The fellow who lifts this above its premise is Bernie Mac, playing Percy Jones, the father of girlfriend Theresa. The part is a parody of a parody - Dad makes Ashton sleep on the sofabed to keep him out of Daughter's bed, Dad gets into slapstick competition with Ashton because he doesn't think the dude is good enough for his daughter, etc. But Mac is not only a gifted verbal comic, he is a world-class physical comedian. At the same time he endows this silly part with a real dignity - you can really believe this is a guy who holds his family together, who loves his wife as much as he did 25 years ago.

I don't need to see another parody of a Spencer Tracy movie (I can't imagine anyone who would actually), but I'd love to see more of Bernie Mac.

I went to see this movie with my boyfriend on a Friday night, and it was good. I though it was a good date movie. It's funny, not long, but it's definitely predictable. Though there might have been some racist jokes or comments, it was pretty funny. It seemed like it could happen in a real life, and I think many face that problem.It's good to address those kind of problems in funny movies.

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.

The characters in "Guess Who" are believable, and not just likable, but downright lovable! Kellee Stewart as sister Keisha shines in her supporting role as lil' sis! Bernie Mac is a bug-eyed delight. Zoe Saldana and Ashton Kutcher are an inspiring couple providing hope for a world without racial barriers. Zoe and Ashton do it seemingly without effort which is the best type of acting: They make it look easy with love as the catalyst! Simple premise yet great fun, and loads of laughs! It is what it is: Entertaining and delightful, and everybody speaks and acts intelligent in the process! Excellent direction and attention to detail by Kevin Rodney Sullivan.

Wonderful film! Ashton Kutcher is his usual bumbling awkward self, Bernie is flat out hilarious, and the rest of the cast does a wonderful job supporting the story. If you enjoy romantic comedies with an ornery edge then this is your film.
A NOTE TO CHRISTIAN VIEWERS
This film has brief sexual references, some moderate language, and implied intemacy before marriage. Although not commendeble in any film, this elements are kept to a minimum, and are still much milder than most of what hollywood puts out nowadays.

Guess Who is a funny movie. I think that Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher worked very well together. They are both two very funny guys. This is a comedic spin on the movie classic, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner? It's just for laughs. Nobody needs to get uptight, just sit back, relax, laugh, and enjoy the movie.
I can say that the only thing that I didn't like about the movie was the dialogue between the two sisters when they were referring to Ashton Kutcher's character's sexual abilities. That was toatlly unnecessary. For that I took off a point and gave it a 4 instead of a 5. Other than that, Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher were great.

Pleasantly surprising is the fact that there is a bona fide story told in this movie so that even amidst the laughing -- and you will be laughing plenty -- a plot unfolds in a natural way, advancing on its own, undeterred by the jokes.

This is the first time I saw Ashton Kutcher do any meaningful acting. About time. His efforts receive valiant support from Bernie Mac's skill at taking the load off him. Mac puts in another pretty good performance as an actor, and by also assuming the heavy lifting as the antagonist, he makes it easy for Kutcher to look like he knows what he's doing.

Whoever was in charge did an artful job of keeping the comedy flowing while making it help the story unfold rather than hinder it which is all too often the case in contemporary romantic comedies.

It exceeded my expectations. I'm sure I'll watch it again sometime.

"Guess Who" is one of those films chosen to just plain enjoy a calm, light-hearted, fun and romantic movie. Bernie Mac shows true acting talent coming across as a sincere protective father, besides the fact that he is hilarious. The actress Zoe Saldana who stars as the daughter to Bernie Mac's character is both a beautiful and gifted actress. The end of this movie was warm, romantic and funny. I would definitely see it again.

"Guess Who" is a fun film that's too weighted down by its predictability. It seems to be a situation-for-situation ripoff of "Meet the Parents" (totally lacking any authentic interracial tension that drove the Potier original, with the overprotective father, the boyfriend who defies parental expectations, uncomfortable car rides complete with uncomfortable songs on the radio, awkward car races, the plot-device sister, etc. Sure, there're a few hilarious exchanges between Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher, but you see them all coming a mile away. Because you've already seen this movie a dozen times, just with a different name and better actors. So save a few bucks and rent, don't buy.