Guess Who
Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Starring, Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldaña, and Judith Scott
Classification:PG
It is another American comedy… They must think we haven’t had enough of them. This time I won’t criticise too much though, as the story line is quite enjoyable.
Theresa (Zoe Saldaña) and Simon (Ashton Kutcher) are engaged; they live together and they seem to be really happy. Theresa is Black, and Simon is White, and perhaps it should not be a problem you think, as we are living in a new society which is supposedly tolerant and accepts different people as they are … But if it is still a good thing to create this kind of comedy “with a message”, it means there is still a need to educate people, in a funny way, on how to tackle racism.
Trouble starts when Theresa decides to introduce her boyfriend to her dad Percy (Bernie Mac), who is usually a nightmare as far as boyfriends are concerned, and her mother Marilyn (Judith Scott), who is of course the understanding mother.
To make matters worse, the young couple is planning to announce their engagement at Theresa’s parents’ 25th anniversary party. Percy thinks Theresa couldn’t surprise him anymore, but when she arrives with a Caucasian (politically correct term for White), he cannot believe it. He even gets confused, thinking that the taxi driver is the boyfriend: it can’t be this white guy! Theresa’s sister, Keisha (Kellee Stewart), whose performance throughout the film deserves to be mentioned (we often forget the second roles) seems to be the happiest girl in the world when this white boyfriend turns up, because, as she says, she can do any crazy thing, and it will not shock her dad like Theresa did.
In short, all the film is about the way Percy tries to discourage Simon to marry his daughter by making Simon sleep with him instead of his daughter; he challenges him to a NASCAR race because Simon had made the mistake of lying that he had been a NASCAR driver. Percy’s favourite game is to embarrass Simon and he finds it so easy!
When it comes to the most important issue, racism, there are a few scenes which really draw the whole picture and make us understand how easy it is to be intolerant. For example, at the end of the film, Simon gets really annoyed because he is convinced that all his problems arise because he is White: “With you people, whatever I say makes me sound like a racist…” he tells Theresa – “Which people?” Theresa asks These misunderstandings make the film.
Another very funny scene is during a meal with the whole family, when Percy wants Simon to tell all the racist jokes he knows. They all laugh at the first one so Simon goes on and on; and we know he will reach a point of no return by telling THE wrong story! The whole idea is a humorous study of the acceptance of someone different as part of the family and it makes it interesting.
The scene I really wanted to mention is the meeting of all the Black women who talk about their problems with their partners. They organise a rebellious meeting, drinking Margaritas and talking really loudly about “those men” who have to change, and know who really wears the pants! When the “man of the house” turns up to tell them to stop their noise, all the tough girls pretend to soften up and behave… but they soon start laughing, at him again!
Eventually… No…I don’t have to tell you how it ends… it is an American comedy after all, so you will easily guess.