Modern take on Sidney Poitier classic doesn't do it justice (Guess Who (DVD))

Member Name: chrissteel1985

Product:	Guess Who (DVD)
Date:	14/07/09 (7 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good moments, Ashton Kutcher surprises with solid role

Disadvantages: Makes you feel a bit uncomfortable with the whole racism angle

Bringing the classic Sidney Poitier film "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" bang up to date is this Kevin Sullivan directed rom-com. Bernie Mac stars as Percy Jones, the over protective father of Theresa Jones (Zoe Saldana).

When Theresa announces she has a new boyfriend/fiance Percy decides to have him checked out. A bit similar to a similar action in "Meet the Fockers" but who cares? That fillm was funny. This is ok. This particular report makes Percy a proud man, his daughter is about to get serious with a young, affluent man with great potential. The one thing Theresa has left out of telling her father is: Her partner is white! Cue Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher)

The film strikes a fine line between being racist and being funny. For most of the film, Simon struggles to win the approval of Percy and their are a few funny scenes (my favourite being the over-competitive go-kart race) but the rest of the movie plays out as a bit too sentimental and up itself. The obvious ending brings about some emotional scenes but it is the surprising maturity of Ashton Kutcher which stands out, playing the straight man against Bernie Mac's flamboyance.

We all know racism is bad but the comic actions of Bernie Mac show Percy for the buffoon he is and hopefully, the message comes out that racists are, well, idiots.

Summary: White man goes with black woman. Hilarity ensues.