Review of:Guess Who (2005)
Director:Kevin Rodney
Rating:PG-13 for sex-related humor.
Starring:Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott, Hal Williams
How things have changed. That’s what I thought after viewing the film “Guess Who” with it’s story of how we must look on the inside of people‚ and not on the outside to their skin color. Being a black man from a time when things were just starting to go down that path‚ I must say that the film is inspiring.
Percy Jones (Bernie Mac) is faced with a decision of the colored (or not colored variety) when his young daughter Theresa (Zoe Saldana) brings home who she hopes will be her future husband. Namely one Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher). He has a pedigree that has already impressed Percy‚ namely his prestigious job at a law firm. However‚ she has told no one that the man she is bringing home is white (Ashton Kutcher).
And therein lies the story‚ and the comedy. How can two different men come to terms with the invisible color line that separates us all‚ and come to an understanding based on love. For Bernie Mac and his character it will be through putting the audience through its paces in laughter‚ and throwing the characters in uncomfortable situations.
Don’t believe me? Imagine a scene where Simon Greene (Ashton Kutcher) tells black jokes in front of his future wife’s family. It is both uncomfortable to watch onscreen and funny at the same time. Most of the film is set up this way so that we can all answer the question for ourselves. Does it really matter the color of a man’s skin when it comes to love.
Director Kevin Rodney does an admirable job of bringing the elements of race into question by comedy. If you don’t take yourself to seriously you will enjoy this film tremendously.
