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Guess Who (film)
Encyclopedia
Guess Who is a 2005 American comedy film about race relations directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan
. It is a loose remake
of the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
, in the form of a romantic comedy
. While the 1967 film covered interracial romance
(of a black man with a white woman) in a serious, dramatic fashion, the 2005 film covered the topic (of a white man with a black woman) in a light, farcical manner. The film stars Ashton Kutcher
and Bernie Mac
.
The majority of the film was filmed in Cranford, New Jersey
.
) takes her boyfriend, Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher
) home to meet her parents on the occasion of her parents' 25th wedding anniversary. Her father, Percy (Bernie Mac
), dislikes Green almost immediately because of his race (Simon is white, while the Joneses are black). With the help of his personal assistant Reggie (Ronreaco Lee
), Percy tries to dig up as much dirt on Simon as he can. This temporarily strains his relationship with his wife, Marilyn (Judith Scott
).
Little does Theresa know that Simon has just quit his job. In order to impress Percy, Simon embarks upon a series of lies. These are discovered and hilarity ensues. Both couples quarrel but reconcile, and everyone learns a valuable lesson in race relations.
, the film earned $68,915,888 in the US and went on to earn $32,950,142 at the worldwide box office, giving it a total gross of $101,866,030.
, with the final consensus stating that "Despite the chemistry of its stars, Guess Who, a loose remake of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, lacks the political relevance of the original."
Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Kevin Rodney Sullivan is an American film and television actor and film director. He is married to wife Nita Sullivan, and has a daughter, Nicole L. Sullivan.-Early Life and Acting Career:...
. It is a loose remake
Remake
A remake is a piece of media based primarily on an earlier work of the same medium.-Film:The term "remake" is generally used in reference to a movie which uses an earlier movie as the main source material, rather than in reference to a second, later movie based on the same source...
of the 1967 film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is a 1967 American drama film starring Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier and Katharine Hepburn, and featuring Hepburn's niece Katharine Houghton...
, in the form of a romantic comedy
Romantic Comedy
Romantic Comedy can refer to* Romantic Comedy , a 1979 play written by Bernard Slade* Romantic Comedy , a 1983 film adapted from the play and starring Dudley Moore and Mary Steenburgen...
. While the 1967 film covered interracial romance
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
(of a black man with a white woman) in a serious, dramatic fashion, the 2005 film covered the topic (of a white man with a black woman) in a light, farcical manner. The film stars Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
and Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough , better known by his stage name, Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L...
.
The majority of the film was filmed in Cranford, New Jersey
Cranford, New Jersey
Cranford is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 22,625.Cranford was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 14, 1871, from portions of the Townships of Clark, Linden,...
.
Plot
Theresa Jones (Zoe SaldanaZoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana , sometimes stylized Zoë Saldaña, is an American actress. She had her breakthrough role in the 2000 film Center Stage and later gained prominence for her roles as Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Uhura in the 2009 film Star Trek, and a starring role...
) takes her boyfriend, Simon Green (Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher
Christopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
) home to meet her parents on the occasion of her parents' 25th wedding anniversary. Her father, Percy (Bernie Mac
Bernie Mac
Bernard Jeffrey McCullough , better known by his stage name, Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L...
), dislikes Green almost immediately because of his race (Simon is white, while the Joneses are black). With the help of his personal assistant Reggie (Ronreaco Lee
RonReaco Lee
RonReaco Lee is an American television and film actor.-Television:Lee began his acting career in 1983 as the host of the short-lived television show Kids Beat...
), Percy tries to dig up as much dirt on Simon as he can. This temporarily strains his relationship with his wife, Marilyn (Judith Scott
Judith Scott (actress)
Judith Scott is an American actress who has been filmed since 1987 mainly in TV series. She was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.She portrayed Dr. Rose Kent on Season 1 of 24. She played a recurring role as Dr. Jenna Williams on the series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She portrayed Esmee...
).
Little does Theresa know that Simon has just quit his job. In order to impress Percy, Simon embarks upon a series of lies. These are discovered and hilarity ensues. Both couples quarrel but reconcile, and everyone learns a valuable lesson in race relations.
Cast
- Ashton KutcherAshton KutcherChristopher Ashton Kutcher , best known as Ashton Kutcher, is an American actor, producer, former fashion model and comedian, best known for his portrayal of Michael Kelso in the Fox sitcom That '70s Show...
as Simon Green - Bernie MacBernie MacBernard Jeffrey McCullough , better known by his stage name, Bernie Mac, was an American actor and comedian. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Mac gained popularity as a stand-up comedian. He joined comedians Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, and D. L...
as Percy Jones - Zoe SaldanaZoe SaldanaZoe Saldana , sometimes stylized Zoë Saldaña, is an American actress. She had her breakthrough role in the 2000 film Center Stage and later gained prominence for her roles as Anamaria in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl and Uhura in the 2009 film Star Trek, and a starring role...
as Theresa Jones - Judith ScottJudith Scott (actress)Judith Scott is an American actress who has been filmed since 1987 mainly in TV series. She was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.She portrayed Dr. Rose Kent on Season 1 of 24. She played a recurring role as Dr. Jenna Williams on the series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. She portrayed Esmee...
as Marilyn Jones - Hal WilliamsHal WilliamsHarold "Hal" Williams is an American actor, best known for his recurring role as the black cop Officer Smith on Sanford and Son, and as the patriarch Lester Jenkins, the husband of Marla Gibbs's character, on 227....
as Howard Jones - Kellee StewartKellee StewartKellee Stewart is an American film and television actress. As of 2007, she plays on the TBS comedy series My Boys as "Stephanie Lane"....
as Keisha Jones - Lawrence Hilton-JacobsLawrence Hilton-JacobsLawrence Hilton-Jacobs is an American actor and singer. He has appeared in a number of films and television programs, including Claudine , Cooley High , Roots , Welcome Back, Kotter , Bangers and Mash , and The Jacksons: An American Dream .Lawrence's name, at least as shown in the credits of Welcome...
as Joseph Jones - Sherri ShepherdSherri ShepherdSherri Evonne Shepherd is an American comedienne, actress, and television personality. She is one of five co-hosts on the ABC daytime talkshow, The View, as well as being the current host of the Newlywed Game and having a recurring role as Angie Jordan on the NBC series 30 Rock...
as Sydney - Robert Curtis Brown as Dante
- Ronreaco LeeRonReaco LeeRonReaco Lee is an American television and film actor.-Television:Lee began his acting career in 1983 as the host of the short-lived television show Kids Beat...
as Reggie - Phil ReevesPhil ReevesPhillip Reeves is an American film and television actor and screenwriter. His major roles so far is that of Charles Swedelson on the sitcom Girlfriends, as General Krieger in Commander in Chief and as the doctor in My Wife and Kids.So far he has written the script for one movie - Happy, Texas,...
as Fred - Nicole SullivanNicole SullivanNicole Julianne Sullivan is an American actress, comedian and voice artist. Sullivan is best known for her six seasons on the sketch comedy series MADtv and five seasons on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens.She has played a recurring character on Scrubs and voices the villainous Shego in...
as Liz Klein - Jessica CauffielJessica CauffielJessica Cauffiel is an American actress and singer.-Early life:Cauffiel was born in Detroit, Michigan; her mother is a social worker and her father is Lowell Cauffiel, a best-selling true crime author, screenwriter and television documentary producer...
as Polly - Niecy NashNiecy NashCarol Denise "Niecy" Nash is an American comedian and actress who has hosted Clean House on the Style Network and played Deputy Raineesha Williams on the Comedy Central television series Reno 911!.-Early life:Nash was born in Palmdale, California. In addition to her acting endeavors, she is the...
as Naomi - Kimberly ScottKimberly ScottKimberly Aileen Scott is an American actress.-Life and career:Scott was born in Texas. She attended school at Texas A&M University-Kingsville and the University of Texas before earning a post-graduate degree from the Yale School of Drama.She has appeared in films such as The Abyss, Gross Anatomy,...
as Kimdra - Richard Lawson as Marcus
- Mike EppsMike EppsMichael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, singer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About the Benjamins...
(uncredited) as The Cab Driver - David KrumholtzDavid KrumholtzDavid Krumholtz is an American actor best known for playing Professor Charlie Eppes in the television series Numb3rs. He appeared as Seth Goldstein in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and its two sequels, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas...
(uncredited) as Jerry MacNamara - Julia LingJulia LingJulia Ling, born Xiao Wei Lin , is an American actress most widely known for her television work, including her recurring roles on NBC series such as ER, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, and most recently, as a series regular on Chuck.-Biography:Ling was born in Temple City, California.At age 6,...
(uncredited) as Speedracer
Box office
According to Box Office MojoBox Office Mojo
Box Office Mojo is a website that tracks box office revenue in a systematic, algorithmic way. Brandon Gray started the site in 1999. In 2002, Gray partnered with Sean Saulsbury and they grew the site to nearly two million readers when, in July 2008, the company was purchased by Amazon.com through...
, the film earned $68,915,888 in the US and went on to earn $32,950,142 at the worldwide box office, giving it a total gross of $101,866,030.
Critical reception
Guess Who gathered mixed reviews earning a 43% rating on Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, with the final consensus stating that "Despite the chemistry of its stars, Guess Who, a loose remake of Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, lacks the political relevance of the original."