What? Bernie Mac as a sarcastic family man? Sounds like the big screen version of The Bernie Mac Show.
In fact, it's a comedy called
But wait, there's more. The film is also a remake of the classic race-relations comedy
David DiCerto (Catholic News Service) isn't the only critic to say the film doesn't stand up to its inspiration. "While Mac is quite funny, it goes without saying that the troika of Mac, Kutcher and [Judith] Scott are no Tracy, Poitier and Hepburn. The film, with its love-is-colorblind message, has its moments, but most of its broad comedy falls flat."
Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) says the characters "show that forming and keeping a loving relationship is a process that does not necessarily get easier with time—be it black, white, or mixed. The film hits its stride when it settles down and shows how the characters work to keep their love alive and their relationship strong. Kutcher and Mac have decent chemistry that could have been more fully exploited. Instead, the filmmakers continue to fall back upon time tested slapstick and superficial situational humor."
Dr. Kenneth R. Morefield (Christian Spotlight) finds that the film is actually closer in style and substance to a much more recent comedy. "If
He's not the only one to make that connection. Christopher Lyon (Plugged In) says, "The film's first act has more in common with
This mixed-race comedy is getting mixed reviews in the mainstream press.