"Guess Who" is Getting Reviewed Today... Do I End That With a ? or ! ???

Love is blind.  Color blind.

The Story:

Theresa (Zoe Saldana) loves Simon (Ashton Kutcher).  So much so, they are going to get married.  What better time to take Simon home to her family, than on the anniversary of her parents Percy (Bernie Mac) and Marilyn's (Judith Scott) anniversary and renewal of vows.  One small hitch... Theresa has never mentioned to her family that the man of her dreams just happens to be white.

Oopsie.

So I suppose I could go on a long philosophical rant on the importance of this film in breaking down race relations in America.  Based loosely off Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, in the new millennium we have to treat the white guy as the odd man out, otherwise the movie would be overtly racist in tone and cause such an uproar.  Instead, making fun of Ashton Kutcher is safe and tolerable to take a look in an amusing way at race relations and come out not feeling so bad about ourselves as human beings.

But that's way too deep for this movie.

: )

Instead, enjoy this one for the tour de force of Bernie Mac playing a dad upset with his daughter, and learning to love his apparent son-in-law-to-be.  The two get off on the wrong foot, but is it because of Simon's skin color, or is it because no guy is ever good enough for a man's daughter?

Ponder that one!  If you have a daughter, you probably can already guess the answer!!

It doesn't help that Simon hits the ground caught in a lie, and apparently Percy can sniff out a lie quicker than anything.

Of course, before the weekend is over, Percy and Simon are going to need to work together to win back the loves of their lives, and with a little help from one another, the weekend might not be so bad after all.

Kutcher has some great reactions throughout the film and he and Bernie make a great duo.

If anything, this is just another remind that Bernie Mac was lost way too soon, he had dozens of more fun characters in him that would be a joy to watch unfold on the screen.

It's lightweight, silly fun that hides the deeper thought that almost everyone is racist until they can change their own mind.

But again, that's too much depth for this film, just go have a good laugh.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I've watched it a few times over the years, and I keep meaning to buy it but haven't yet.  Maybe someday....

Five Years Gone Already? "I Ain't Scared of You: A Tribute to Bernie Mac"

Gone too soon...

The Story:

Bernie Mac was a great comedian who passed away just as his star was shining brightest.  This documentary/remembrance of the late comedian is a touching tribute to the man.

Interspersed with audio/video from Bernie himself, it offers a quick chronicle of his life up to his passing.  From his humble beginnings as a dirt-poor kid in Chicago until he was the toast of Hollywood, this offers a nice career retrospective on a comic genius gone too soon.

His daughter appears to be the one who is asking questions and hearing anecdotes from Bernie's friends, family and co-stars.

On hand to share stories are Cedric the Entertainer, Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Basset, Steven Soderbergh, Chris Rock and many, many more.

It's funny, touching, and bittersweet.  At just over an hour, like the man himself, it's over too soon.

Recommended for fans of his comedy or acting work.



Available to stream instantly on Netflix until May 1st, so act quick if you want to watch it.

Final Grade: B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Probably a perfect bookend for big Bernie Mac fans.  Otherwise, one viewing was enough to remind you of how great of a comedian he was.