Made in America | | Cast : | Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson | | Director : | Richard Benjamin | | Studio : | Warner Studios | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Dolby | | Released Date : | May 28, 1993 | | DVD Released Date : | June 01, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), English (Original Language) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | May 21, 2004 | | Summary | A love made in America | Content
 | Just before Ted Danson began his 11th and final season of his sitcom Cheers in 1992,he teamed up with Whoopi Goldberg in this hysterical and somewhat romantic comedy. This led to the stars' real-life brief romance. Hal Jackson(Danson) is a truck salesman who is the father of Zora Matthews(Nia Long). Zora's mother(Goldberg) was artificially inseminated when she became pregnant with Zora. When Zora went to the sperm bank,she learned Hal was her father,which means she's half-caucasian. Supporting cast members include Jennifer Tilly,who's Hal's girlfriend and Will Smith,who was then the star of the sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. This led to a major film career for former rapper Smith. In the final scene,at Zora's high school graduation,Hal and Zora's mother are embracing and smooching. That reminds fans of TV's The Jeffersons of the sitcom's interracial couple Tom and Helen Willis. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 08, 2002 | | Summary | Sweet, funny and sometimes silly | Content
| Definitely not the best film in the world, but very enjoyable. Ted Danson plays a self-absorbed, alcoholic, bed-hopping car salesman and wealthy owner of a large car dealership. Whoopi Goldberg portrays a widowed single mom of a teenage daughter who owns an African-centric shop. Whoopi has given the impression to her daughter that her late husband was her child's father, but when she finds her father's death certificate, she knows that is impossible. Whoopi confesses that in the lonely period after her husband's death, she resorted to sperm donation. With the help of her boyfriend (hilariously played by Will Smith), she breaks into the sperm bank's computer records to find the identity of her father and lo and behold - it's Ted Danson. She's a little shocked and when she reveals her findings to her mother, her mother is horrified. When Ted Danson's character is confronted with the news, his life takes a 180. He now has responsibilities as a father, even though he was told that his sperm would only be used for research when he donated several years earlier. He now has something to live for and finds that he can actually like himself and he finds himself loving the child he never knew. He stops bed-hopping and drinking and finds himself focusing on catching up on his daughter's life. There are some ridiculous scenes in this movie and some very cheesy, over-acted parts, but as a whole, it is an entertaining and enjoyable experience. There are a few scenes that will put a lump in your throat and others that will have you doubled-over with laughter... and in the end, you feel you're a part of this mixed-heritage family. |
| Rating | | | Date | August 02, 2002 | | Summary | Failed attempt at comedy | Content
| Made in America fails to bring in the laughs, and worse, it presents a great opportunity to deal with race issues, yet never deals with it beyond "He's white? He can't be your father!" This film begins with a promising premise. What if a black girl found out her father, a sperm donor, was actually white? But instead of creating a fascinating mix of social commentary on race and brilliant comedy, it gives us slapstick. And unfunny slapstick at that. I laughed... once. This film's one saving grace is Whoopie. She adds some energy to most of her scenes. But even she seems unexcited to be in this movie. It's one of her least funny roles. Made in America also gives a young Will Smith a role, and it's clear from the start that it wasn't until after this film that he matured as an actor. This movie is only for really, really big Whoopie fans. |
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