Honestly, if you grew up in the mid-2000s, you probably remember the specific brand of chaos that was the Guess Who movie cast. It was a weird, transitional time for cinema. We were right in the middle of the "Ashton Kutcher is everywhere" era, and Bernie Mac was at the absolute peak of his powers.
When people talk about the 2005 film Guess Who, they usually frame it as a remake of the 1967 classic Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. But let’s be real: it’s barely the same movie. While the original was a heavy-hitting social drama starring Sidney Poitier, the 2005 version flipped the racial script and leaned hard into the "Meet the Parents" style of cringe-comedy.
It worked. Sorta. Even twenty years later, the chemistry between the leads makes it one of those movies you'll actually sit through when it pops up on cable on a Sunday afternoon.
The Power Duo: Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher
The whole movie lives or dies on the friction between Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher.
Bernie Mac played Percy Jones, the overprotective, high-stakes loan officer who basically treats his daughter's love life like a credit application. He was intimidating. He was hilarious. Most importantly, he brought that specific "Bernie Mac Show" energy—that "I'm looking at the camera even when I'm not looking at the camera" vibe—that made him feel like everyone's sternest uncle.
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Then you had Ashton Kutcher as Simon Green. At this point, Kutcher was trying to pivot away from the "dude, where's my car" persona into something more grounded. As Simon, a guy who quits his job right before meeting the in-laws, he played the "anxious white guy" role to a T.
Fun Fact: Director Kevin Rodney Sullivan actually encouraged a lot of the banter between these two. Bernie and Ashton were friends in real life, which is why the scene where they're forced to share a bed feels so genuinely awkward. It wasn't just scripted; it was two guys who actually knew how to push each other's buttons.
The Women Who Held It All Together
While the "battle of the men" takes up most of the screen time, the Guess Who movie cast would have been a disaster without the women balancing out the testosterone.
- Zoe Saldaña (Theresa Jones): Before she was blue in Avatar or green in Guardians of the Galaxy, Zoe Saldaña was the heart of this movie. She had the impossible task of being the bridge between her insane father and her impulsive fiancé. It’s easy to forget how good she is at grounded, human roles because we’re so used to seeing her in space suits now.
- Judith Scott (Marilyn Jones): She played Percy’s wife, and honestly, she’s the MVP. Marilyn is the only person who can actually shut Percy down. The subplot about their 25th-anniversary vow renewal gives the movie its only real emotional weight.
- Kellee Stewart (Keisha Jones): Playing the younger sister, she got some of the best lines. Her reaction when she first sees Simon—"Are we getting audited?"—is probably the most quoted joke in the entire script.
The Supporting Players and Cameos
The depth of the cast is actually pretty surprising if you look at the credits. You’ve got veteran actors like Hal Williams playing Grandpa Howard, who provides the perspective of an older generation that isn't quite as "progressive" as the younger Joneses.
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Then there are the "if you blink, you'll miss them" moments. Sherri Shepherd shows up. Niecy Nash is in there. Even Mike Epps makes a brief appearance as the cab driver at the beginning of the film. It felt like a "who’s who" of Black Hollywood in 2005, all orbiting around this weirdly high-concept interracial comedy.
Why the Casting Worked (and Why It Didn't)
Look, critics weren't exactly kind to this movie when it dropped. A lot of people felt like it took a revolutionary 1960s concept and turned it into a sitcom.
But here’s the thing: the Guess Who movie cast understood the assignment. They weren't trying to win Oscars. They were trying to make a movie about the specific discomfort of being "the only one" in a room.
What worked:
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- The "tango" scene. Watching Bernie Mac try to lead Ashton Kutcher in a dance is objectively funny.
- The dinner table scene. Simon trying to tell "Black jokes" because he's being goaded by Percy is a masterclass in tension. It makes you want to crawl under your own skin.
- The genuine affection between the Jones family members.
What didn't:
The "go-kart" sequence. It felt like it belonged in a different movie. It was too "slapstick" for a film that was otherwise trying to be a semi-smart look at racial dynamics.
The Lasting Legacy of the Cast
Tragically, this was one of Bernie Mac's last major film roles before he passed away in 2008. For many fans, Percy Jones is the quintessential Bernie Mac character—protective, stubborn, but ultimately filled with love for his family.
Ashton Kutcher eventually moved more into tech investing and producing, and Zoe Saldaña became one of the highest-grossing actresses of all time. Seeing them all together in this mid-budget comedy feels like a time capsule.
Actionable Insights for Fans of the Film
If you're looking to revisit the movie or dive deeper into the careers of the Guess Who movie cast, here’s what you should do:
- Watch the 1967 Original: To really appreciate the "flip," watch Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. It makes the 2005 version feel much more intentional with its race-reversal.
- Check out The Bernie Mac Show: If you loved Bernie in this, the sitcom is basically five seasons of the same energy, often with better writing.
- Look for the Deleted Scenes: The DVD/Blu-ray versions have several scenes involving Simon trying (and failing) to bond with the extended Jones family that are actually funnier than what made the final cut.
- Follow the Career Arc: Trace Zoe Saldaña's path from this film to Drumline and eventually to the MCU. It’s a wild trajectory for an actress who started in these types of ensemble comedies.
The movie isn't perfect. It’s a product of its time. But the cast took a recycled premise and gave it enough soul to stay relevant for two decades.