1967 / 108m - USA
Drama
1.5*/5.0*
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner poster

Watches

May 21, 2021

1.5*/5.0*

I guess if you're really generous, you could say this is one of those films that is still relevant today. On the other hand, the message here is so empathic and spelled out that it really starts to grate over the course of 110 minutes. The film starts out as a predictable but light drama, but goes completely off the rails in the second half.

John and Joanna are an interracial couple. They want to get married, but haven't told their parents yet they're dating someone with a different skin color. A dinner is supposed to clear everything up, but not everyone is on board with their plans, even those who have thought themselves to be pretty liberal.

Though the film is presented as a thematic exploration of race issues, it's just as much about gender, with both moms supporting the young couple, while both dads are firmly against the marriage. Performances are decent and I did enjoy the lighter tone at the start of the film, but it becomes so overly moralistic that the entire second half turned into one big cringe-fest. Hopelessly outdated.