The stress of visiting ones future father-in-law can be overwhelming.  On top of this stress, Simon quits his prestigious job at the investment firm JP Oliver, an obvious allusion towards JP Morgan.  In addition, Simon does not inform his fiancée Theresa Jones (Zoe Saldana) about his recent unemployment while they plan on telling her parents about their engagement at the parents 25th Wedding Anniversary.  Simon manages the situation very well, a sign that he has a very high stress level.  However, his stress level is about to be tested when he is about to meet Theresa’s overly protective father, Percy Jones (Bernie Mac), for the first time.

Meanwhile, Percy checks out Simon’s credit history, as he is a bank loan officer, and this impresses him.  Percy is also excited about Simon working at JP Oliver, but does not know that he has quit. Bernie Mac, who often comes across a grand character, does a good job here down-playing his strong persona.  This helps the film deliver a better cinematic experience, as the focus is on all the members of the family.

The first encounter between Simon and Percy is a scene with mixed identities, which will certainly bring the audience to laughter.  The film continues to play with situational comedy that seems familiar with the comedy on many sitcoms.  Nonetheless, there are moments when the comedy actually elevates beyond sitcom level, and even brings a tear to the eye.  It is important that the audience does not forget the power of laughter, as it can help bring people together.  Sullivan does exactly this with Guess Who where he lets the comedy do the talking while presenting the racial issues.

There are several situations in the film where Sullivan presents interesting notions in regards to human differences such as in the cab on the way to Theresa’s parents and the night when they have supper together with Theresa’s grandfather.  These situations deliver numerous opportunities to further extend to the racial tensions within the society.  Unfortunately, the film does not take any risks by exploring these new territories, which leaves the film behind from being a finer cinematic experience.  Even so, the film succeeds in presenting an enjoyable film that can continue to soften the rigid notions that still linger within society.

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USA

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