Cast: Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson, Nia Long, Will Smith, Jennifer Tilly
Director: Richard Benjamin
Producers: Arnon Milchan, Rick Bieber, and Michael Douglas
Screenplay: Holly Goldberg Sloan
Cinematography: Ralf D. Bode
Music: Mark Isham
U.S. Distributor: Warner Brothers
As a result of a simple science class blood test, Zora Matthews (Nia Long) discovers that the man she had long thought of as her father, couldn't be. Once confronted with this disarming truth, Sarah Matthews (Whoopi Goldberg) confesses to her daughter that she is a product of artificial insemination. This sparks Zora's search for her real father. After getting the information from the sperm bank's records, she goes to meet Hal Jackson (Ted Danson), and finds out that her dad is rude, crude, and, worst of all, white.
Yeah, there are a lot of implausibilities in this script, but the story moves along snappily enough that some of them can almost be overlooked. More difficult to miss is Richard Benjamin's inadequate direction. There are numerous scenes that could have been demonstrably funnier had Benjamin choreographed them adeptly. His heavy-handedness hamstrings this light farce.
The first half of Made in America is peppered with amusing moments. Comedy is divided nicely between the outrageous and the subtle (although Bejamin likes to "point out" the less obvious moments by using tricks such as slow-motion). Unfortunately, the comic momentum fades as the film moves to a climax, with the big "plot twist" near the end seeming like something out of bad television melodrama. There are a lot of different ways the story could have gone; the route chosen is among the most dissatisfying of possibilities.
Surprisingly, although this is billed as a romantic comedy, Sarah and Hal's romance is boring. Despite the rumors linking Goldberg and Danson together off-screen, there doesn't seem to be much chemistry between them. There's no question that the best performance is given by Nia Long. Goldberg and Danson don't have to stretch much to keep in character. Hal is little more than a southern extension of Cheers' Sam Malone and Sarah Matthews echoes roles that Goldberg has played in the past (a politically-correct African American single mother).
One of the failures of Made in America is in the way it introduces the two main characters. At the outset of the film, both Sarah and Hal are portrayed as irresponsible, arrogant, and thoroughly dislikeable. Although they soften as the story progresses, and the audience gradually warms to them, this is not a positive way to start a movie. It's typical in a romantic comedy for one of the partners to be acerbic and unpleasant, but it's unusual for both to be like this.
As far as comedies go, this one is distinctly mundane. The humor is spotty, character development is so- so, and there are number of significant plot problems. There's no overriding reason why anyone would want to see Made in America unless they're a fan of Danson or Goldberg. Other viewers are advised to avoid this film.
© 1993 James Berardinelli