GUESS WHO
US, 2005, 105 minutes, Colour.
Bernie Mac, Ashton Kutcher, Zoe Saldana, Judith Scott.
Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan.
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner is now something of a classic of the mid 1960s. Audiences watching it now may wonder what all the fuss was about when Katherine Houghton brought her fiancé Sidney Poitier home to meet Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. Director Stanley Kramer had, almost ten years earlier, defied racial prejudices in the US in the prison escape drama, The Defiant Ones, with Sidney Poitier and Tony Curtis chained to each other. 1963 saw the Civil Rights March on Washington. Integration was moving slowly through many of the states.
So, why a re-make in 2005?
Well, it’s not exactly a re-make. Rather it’s an updated version. What is significant, of course, is that the racial roles are reversed. Zoe Saldana is bringing her fiancée, Ashton Kutcher, to meet Bernie Mac and Judith Scott. This is a comedy intended for the African American audience, a feel-bad at first, feel-good movie that is meant to break through racial stereotypes so that black and white see persons before colour.
The humour is often very broad which has made some white reviewers very self-conscious. The black cast, on the other hand, enter into the spirit of the thing with all kinds of jokes at everyone’s expense, though there is a dinner sequence where white fiancé is urged to tell more and more jokes about blacks, articulating some of the harsh humour which makes everyone both laugh and wince.
A lot of the situations are obviously contrived to make the points. That doesn’t matter unless you are expecting a serious tract on racial equality. It makes its point by highlighting the stupidities in prejudiced attitudes and behaviour. It also highlights how, once people get to know each other as people, colour becomes unimportant.
Bernie Mac is more genial and funny than his usual brash performances. Ashton Kutcher is also more pleasant than usual. No classic like its predecessor but a reminder that racism needs combating at all times and that often ‘laughter is the best medicine’.
1. The title? The original film of 1967 and its themes? This 21st-century variation?
2. The theme of acceptance, the race reversal and playing with this theme, serious, comic? The impact for African- American audiences? White audiences?
3. The introduction to the theme: Percy, Bernie Mac and his comic style, larger than life, presence, at home, success in business, his relationship with Marilyn, 25 years, his trying to write his renewal of vows, the book, the song and Reggie’s advice? His love for Theresa, her prospects? A liberal-minded household?
4. The preparation for the celebration, the planner, his style, tastes, Marilyn describing him as metrosexual, Percy’s idea? His presence, interventions, dresses, the hem on Percy’s trousers? Percy surprised when he turned up at the celebration with the glamorous wife?
5. The introduction to the theme: Simon, Ashton Kutcher and his status on screen and television at this time? At work, his success, principles, clash with the boss, quitting, phoning friends to get a new job? The introduction to Theresa, the audience seeing that she was black? The love between the two, the plans, liberal attitudes?
6. The taxi ride, the observations of the driver, Percy mistaking him, asking Simon to carry the bags, the truth, reactions, recovery? Marilyn and her support?
7. The issue of the truth, open to non-racist attitudes? The secrets, Simon and his talking about NASCAR – and the consequences with Percy knowing the driver, the driving and crashing on the circuit? Percy and his lying to Reggie, about Jamal being an athlete? The consequences?
8. The tensions between the two men, race, Simon and his lies about sport, his job? Going to the hotel, no room? Returning home, the basement, locking the door, the mattress, Percy staying, the jokes about the two at night? Theresa coming to the window – and Simon going out?
9. Percy, the investigation of Simon’s background and discovery trips?
10. The meal, Theresa’s sister arriving? The black jokes, continued, the reactions, tolerance, laughing, the grandfather and his reaction? A joke too far?
11. The truth, Marilyn upset and going away? Theresa, clashing with Simon, also going? The girls’ night and the gossip and support?
12. Simon, his 33 calls? Talking with Percy, helping him with his vows? The bonding between the two?
13. Going to see the women, the apology, Percy and his using Simon’s words? Simon and the decision to go? At the railway station, missing his train, Percy coming and urging him to go back?
14. The reconciliation, the celebration, the renewal of vows, Percy singing, everybody dancing?
15. The humorous outtakes and continuing the story, the comedy and themes?
