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    A terrific cast is wasted in this uneven and at times cringeworthy, new comedy. The film is written by Kenya Barris and Jonah Hill. Mr. Barris also directed the film and Mr. Hill stars as Ezra Cohen, along with Lauren London as Amira, his girlfriend, Eddie Murphy as Akbar, Amira's father, Nia Long as Amira's mother, Julia Louis -Dreyfus as Ezra's mother Shelly, David Duchovny as Ezra's father and Sam Jay as Mo, Ezra's podcast partner and best friend.

     In some ways, it's an updated comedic take on the film "Guess Who's coming to Dinner" which was radical for it's time in the 1960's when a white woman brings home her black boyfriend to meet her parents. 

    Placed in this contemporary setting, it is a clash of culture and race that fuels the comedy when both sets of parents have no idea how deal with Ezra and Amira's intention to marry. There are a few funny moments but Mr. Murphy plays against type with Mr. Hill and especially Ms. Louis -Dreyfus providing most of the laughs. However, while mildly funny, many of the jokes fall flat and come off cringeworthy and offensive equally to blacks and whites.

   While Mr. Hill and Mr. Barris have a lot to say about race relations and culture, their ideas come off either preachy or as confused as Ezra and Amira are about their situation. There is not a lot of character development except to create stereotypes and and while the actors try hard, the message that we can all get along is too easily resolved at the end.