Jonah Hill and Lauren London meet cute and decide to get married, but their parents and their different backgrounds present challenges (she’s Black and he’s Jewish). Yes, there are echoes of Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (racism) and Meet the Fockers (hostile father-in-law), but it’s been updated for today’s sensibilities. Eddie Murphy (as her dad) and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (as his mom) bring their considerable comic abilities, while Hill suffers every humiliation with humorous reactions. The script, co-written by Hill and director Kenya Barris (who also has a cameo on the plane), lays out many of the arguments about society’s expectations and understanding cultures. Some of the time, they manage to make it funny, but there are lots of didactic messages that are just that: teaching moments. Overall, there is some genuine humor and even heart, but not enough of either to make it an exceptional comedy. It is refreshing to see Richard Benjamin and Elliott Gould (although his lines must have been cut). 
(3 / 5)
