Guess Who (2005)

"Brilliantly-made date movie and buddy comedy all in one.  Earl Dittman, WIRELESS MAGAZINES
"Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher are flat-out hilarious!  Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV

Editor's Note This new take on the 1967 drama GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER puts a comedic spin on interracial dating. Bernie Mac (THE BERNIE MAC SHOW) costars as Percy Jones, a wealthy black banker who has an overbearing love for his family. Percy is about to host a lavish party at his sprawling New Jersey home in celebration of his 25-year wedding anniversary to Marilyn (Judith Scott, FLIGHT PLAN). His daughter Theresa (Zoe Saldana, THE TERMINAL) is coming home for the occasion, and she's bringing her new boyfriend, Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher, THAT 70S SHOW, PUNK'D). Theresa has neglected to mention that her new beau is white, however, and the formidable Percy is in for a surprise. Though Simon does everything in his power to impress his future father-in-law, nothing will make the imposing patriarch change his undermining disposition. Matters are further complicated because Simon has recently lost his job, and he struggles to keep the family from finding out. As unrest spreads, causing tension--and plenty of laughs--in the days leading up to the party, Simon and Theresa face uncertainty in their relationship while Percy and Marilyn suffer difficulties of their own. GUESS WHO? is full of both hilarious and cringe-worthy moments, including an incredibly tense scene where Simon is goaded into entertaining the family at dinner with black jokes. The sermonizing tone of the original film is replaced with an endearing slapstick humor, and while the heartwarming family tale is present, the film doesn't shy away from the deeper underlying issues, presenting a fresh perspective on prescient cultural foibles.

	Ashton Kutcher
	Bernie Mac
	Judith Scott
	Zoe Saldana
	Bernie Mac, et. al. - Producer
	Betty Thomas, et. al. - Executive Producer
	David Ronn, et. al. - Story By
	David Ronn, et. al. - Screenplay
	John Murphy - Original Music By
	Karl Walter Lindenlaub - Cinematographer
	Kevin Rodney Sullivan - Director
	Paul Peeters - Production Designer
	Paul Seydor - Editor

Chicago Sun-Times
"Bernie Mac, who often cheerfully goes over the top in his roles, here provides a focused and effective performance." 03/25/2005 p.26

James Berardinelli's ReelViews 7 of 10
Kevin Rodney Sullivan's...2005 movie is an overt comedy that, while not ignoring the race issues altogether, uses them more frequently for humor than to illustrate serious points. And society has changed in the last 40 years. What was controversial and daring in 1967 (interracial relationships) is no longer so today. Although it would be unfair to characterize Guess Who as vapid, it bears a closer resemblance to a fusion of Meet the Parents and The Odd Couple than to Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. - James Berardinelli

Chicago Sun-Times 7 of 10
...Guess Who works efficiently on its chosen level. Bernie Mac, who often cheerfully goes over the top in his roles, here provides a focused and effective performance as a father who would subject a boyfriend of any race to merciless scrutiny...Ashton Kutcher is not the actor Sidney Poitier was, but the movie doesn't require him to be; his assignment is to be acceptable and sympathetic in a situation where he is coached through the hazards by his girlfriend. - Roger Ebert