Guess Who

Review by Ruth Ferguson

Far more remakes fail than succeed, so it’s a welcome surprise to discover Guess Who - a remake of the 1967 classic Guess Who's Coming to Dinner – actually, and rather astonishingly, considering the pedigree - makes the grade.

What’s even more surprising is that it isn’t a good movie because it’s a faithful Xerox of the original; but because in fact it’s not so much a remake than it is an original film that thieves a title and synopsis and travels its own route.

In 1967 Oscar winners Sidney Poitier, Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were the stars of a film covering a then very violate topic of interracial dating and marriage.

Liberal minded white parents were put to the test, when their daughter brought home tall, dark and handsome Poitier.

In 2005, one can’t pretend that America has accomplished the dream of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., however interracial relationships are so commonplace they rarely cause a raised eyebrow. Unless of course, the former’s father is Bernie Mac, and the young punk is Ashton Kutcher.

Simon (Ashton Kutcher) is a hotshot stockbroker who has just walked out of his job with confidence that he can find another one with no problem. Since they’ve got enough on their plate this weekend, meeting his future in-laws, Simon decides not to bother girlfriend Theresa (Zoë Saldana) about the little problem of his recently unwaged standing.

As one could assume, Simon is not exactly what Percy (Bernie Mac) expects to pop out of the back of the cab with daughter Theresa. While his wife is willing to roll with the surprise, Dad is simply not having it. Laughs ensue…

In this modern twist, the African American family is very affluent, living the American dream in New Jersey, and by far the funniest moment in the film is at the family dinner when Percy dares Simon to share some of the jokes about blacks.

A well-thought-out and amusing movie, Guess Who might fail to draw you in from the get-go, but before you know it, the gags catch on, Kutcher and Mac's chemistry really starts to kick and the movie makes a gentle turn into a solicitous and entertaining movie about racial themes and ultimately, relationships.

Those looking for a good funnybone workout will still find it, but where Guess Who succeeds is its focus on matters of the heart.

3 out of 5

Guess Who
Australian release: Thursday 7th of April, 2005
Cast: Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Sherri Shepherd.
Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan.
Website: Click here.

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