A young black woman discovers that her father was a sperm donor, and if that weren't bad enough, he's white.
Director:
Stars:
Awards:
- 1 win & 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Whoopi Goldberg | ... |
Sarah Mathews
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| Ted Danson | ... |
Hal Jackson
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| Will Smith | ... |
Tea Cake Walters
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| Nia Long | ... |
Zora Mathews
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| Paul Rodriguez | ... |
Jose
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| Jennifer Tilly | ... |
Stacy
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| Peggy Rea | ... |
Alberta
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| Clyde Kusatsu | ... |
Bob Takashima
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| David Bowe | ... |
Teddy
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| Jeff Joseph | ... |
James
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Rawley Valverde | ... |
Diego
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| Fred Mancuso | ... |
Bruce
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| Charlene Fernetz | ... |
Paula
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| Shawn Levy | ... |
Dwayne
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| Lu Leonard | ... |
Sperm Bank Nurse
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Joe Lerer | ... |
Hospital Doctor
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Janice Edwards | ... |
Hospital Nurse
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| Michael McFall | ... |
Hospital Intern
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| Phyllis Avery | ... |
White Woman #1
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| Frances Bergen | ... |
White Woman #2
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| O'Neal Compton | ... |
Rocky
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Michael Halton | ... |
Stew
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William John Murphy | ... |
P.A. #1
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| Ross Benjamin | ... |
P.A. #2
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| Mel Stewart | ... |
Principal Rockwell
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David E. Kazanjian | ... |
Mr. Alden
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James Cranna | ... |
Person at Car Lot
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Shannon Orrock | ... |
Wife at Car Lot
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Alexandra Joy Cuccia | ... |
Child at Car Lot
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Chikako Felper | ... |
Japanese Woman #1
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Patricia Jow | ... |
Japanese Woman #2
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Raquel Osborne | ... |
Woman in Sushi Bar
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| James Anthony Cotton | ... |
Man with Beer
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Miyuki Takei | ... |
Sushi Waitress
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Akihide 'Bo' Fujiyama | ... |
Sushi Chef
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Gregory Fields | ... |
Rapper
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Meashell McCann | ... |
Rapper
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Antoine Foote | ... |
Rapper
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Jeffrey Russell | ... |
Rapper
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Rico E. Anderson | ... |
Man in Sushi Bar (uncredited)
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| Larry Laverty | ... |
Mechanic (uncredited)
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| Theodore Carl Soderberg | ... |
Tourist (uncredited)
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| Tai | ... |
Elephant (uncredited)
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Judy Thompson | ... |
Bikini Model (uncredited)
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Johnpaul Williams | ... |
Cute Guy on Date (uncredited)
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A'da Alison Woolfolk | ... |
Sushi Bar Patron (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Richard Benjamin | ||
Written by
| Marcia Brandwynne | ... | (story) & |
| Nadine Schiff | ... | (story) and |
| Holly Goldberg Sloan | ... | (story) |
| Holly Goldberg Sloan | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Rick Bieber | ... | producer |
| Marcia Brandwynne | ... | executive producer |
| Michael Douglas | ... | producer |
| Arnon Milchan | ... | producer |
| Patrick J. Palmer | ... | co-producer |
| Steven Reuther | ... | co-executive producer |
| Suzanne Rothbaum | ... | associate producer |
| Nadine Schiff | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Mark Isham | ||
Cinematography by
| Ralf D. Bode | ||
Editing by
| Jacqueline Cambas | ||
Editorial Department
| Margaret Adachi | ... | assistant film editor |
| Kelly Barr | ... | post-production assistant |
| Donah Bassett | ... | negative cutter |
| William Fletcher | ... | associate film editor |
| Paul Martinez | ... | assistant film editor |
| Hillary Murray | ... | color timer |
| Christina Kutzer Palmer | ... | post-production assistant (as Christina R. Palmer) |
Casting By
| Reuben Cannon | ||
Production Design by
| Evelyn Sakash | ||
Set Decoration by
| Hilton Rosemarin | ||
Costume Design by
| Elizabeth McBride | ||
Makeup Department
| Michael Germain | ... | key makeup artist |
| Susan Germaine | ... | hair stylist: Mr. Danson |
| Candace Neal | ... | hair stylist |
| Daniel C. Striepeke | ... | key makeup artist (as Daniel Striepeke) |
| Julia L. Walker | ... | key hair stylist |
| Jake Garber | ... | special makeup effects artist (uncredited) |
| Stacey Morris | ... | hair stylist: Will Smith (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Joe M. Aguilar | ... | unit production manager |
| Carol Dantuono | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Newt Arnold | ... | first assistant director (as Newton Arnold) |
| Richard Brodsky | ... | second second assistant director |
| Bryan Denegal | ... | second assistant director |
| David R. Ellis | ... | second unit director |
| L. Dean Jones Jr. | ... | first assistant director |
| Robert J. Mooney | ... | second assistant director: second unit |
| Patrick J. Palmer | ... | second unit director (as Patrick Palmer) |
| Shannon Wilson | ... | additional second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Rodney Armanino | ... | construction coordinator |
| Mark Bachman | ... | signwriter |
| Dean Backer | ... | assistant props |
| Kris Boxell | ... | set dressing buyer |
| Robert A. Corso | ... | second assistant props |
| Lisa Devlin | ... | stand-by painter |
| Dale Haugo | ... | scenic charge |
| Chris H. Kelly | ... | construction coordinator |
| Sherman Labby | ... | sketch artist |
| George F. Mauricio | ... | set dresser |
| Don Miloyevich | ... | property master |
| Ray Mondoux | ... | construction foreman |
| Richard Reseigne | ... | construction coordinator |
| Catherine Roehl | ... | construction accountant |
| Kristen Ross | ... | art department coordinator |
| Dawn Swiderski | ... | assistant art director |
| Eugene M. Texeira | ... | set dresser |
| Don Watson | ... | lead man |
| Don Weinger | ... | assistant art director |
| Lauren Abrams | ... | scenic painter (uncredited) |
| John Alvin | ... | poster artist (uncredited) |
| Kristin Argue | ... | drapery (uncredited) |
| Todd McCune Bray | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Joanne Desmond | ... | construction buyer (uncredited) |
| Peggy Hrastar | ... | painter (uncredited) |
| Matthew McLemore | ... | Scenic artist/painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Peter C. Barbour | ... | sound editor |
| Bruce Bell | ... | foley mixer |
| Duke Brown | ... | sound editor (as Duke L. Brown) |
| Scott Burrow | ... | sound editor |
| Jeff Bushelman | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Mike Dobie | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Timothy C. Dobie | ... | first assistant sound editor |
| Gary Dowling | ... | boom operator |
| Dan Gleich | ... | sound mixer: second unit (as Daniel D. Gleich) |
| Mark Gordon | ... | sound editor |
| Paul Grenier | ... | sound processor (as Paul B. Grenier) |
| Robin Harlan | ... | foley artist |
| Doug Hemphill | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Ellen Heuer | ... | foley artist |
| Chris Jenkins | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Tony Jenkins | ... | sound re-recordist |
| Rudy J. Lara | ... | sound re-recordist (as Rudy Lara) |
| Richard Lightstone | ... | sound mixer |
| Sarah Monat | ... | foley artist |
| Philip Perkins | ... | sound mixer: second unit |
| Debbie Peterson | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Mark Smith | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Christina Tucker | ... | adr mixer |
| Christopher T. Welch | ... | sound editor (as C.T. Welch) |
Special Effects by
| Tom Sindicich | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Kevin Bailey | ... | stunts |
| LaFaye Baker | ... | stunts |
| Gregory J. Barnett | ... | stunts (as Greg Barnett) |
| Dan Bell | ... | stunts |
| Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi | ... | stunts |
| Rocky Capella | ... | stunts |
| Lisa Dempsey | ... | stunts (as Lisa K. Dempsey) |
| Annie Ellis | ... | stunts |
| David R. Ellis | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Richard M. Ellis | ... | stunts (as Richard Ellis) |
| Tommy J. Huff | ... | stunts (as Tom Huff) |
| Keith Jones | ... | stunts |
| Kevin Larson | ... | stunts |
| Will Leong | ... | stunts (as Willie Leong) |
| Kym Washington Longino | ... | stunts (as Kym Washington) |
| Johnny Martin | ... | stunts |
| Steve Martin | ... | stunts (as Steve E. Martin) |
| Mike Martinez | ... | stunts |
| Tim Meredith | ... | stunts (as Tim C. Meridith) |
| Jeff Mosley | ... | stunts |
| David D. Renaud | ... | stunts (as David Renaud) |
| R.A. Rondell | ... | stunts |
| Dick Ziker | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Joseph Antczak | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| Brian W. Armstrong | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| William D. Barber | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Mike Benson | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Hans Bjerno | ... | camera technician: Wescam, aerial unit |
| Paul Bode | ... | second assistant camera |
| Curt Cabral | ... | electrician |
| Steve Cardellini | ... | dolly grip |
| Gregory M. Childers | ... | electrician (as Greg Childers) |
| Ted Churchill | ... | steadicam operator |
| Charma Ferreira | ... | second grip |
| Todd M. Gavin | ... | second assistant camera: second unit |
| Gary Gill | ... | best boy grip |
| Jeff Gilliam | ... | rigging grip |
| Edward Gold | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Nathaniel Goodman | ... | steadicam assistant |
| Peter Gulla | ... | first assistant camera |
| Jon Guterres | ... | key grip |
| Andrea Kahn | ... | electrician |
| Bruce Manning | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| Paul Marbury | ... | first assistant camera: second unit (as Paul S. Marbury) |
| Jeff Mart | ... | steadicam operator |
| Stan McClain | ... | director of photography: aerial unit |
| Harald Ortenburger | ... | camera operator |
| Joe Carl Parsons | ... | best boy electric |
| Patrick Riley | ... | Steadicam assistant / first assistant camera: second unit |
| Wesley Riley | ... | second grip |
| Tony Rivetti | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| Zade Rosenthal | ... | still photographer |
| Michael Santy | ... | first assistant camera: second unit |
| John A. Small | ... | second assistant camera |
| Michael St. Hilaire | ... | camera operator: second unit |
| Frank Strzalkowski | ... | gaffer |
| Lou Weinert | ... | second assistant camera: second unit |
| Harry Zimmerman | ... | second assistant camera: second unit |
| Marty Brenneis | ... | video playback operator (uncredited) |
| László Regos | ... | steadicam operator (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| David Giella | ... | casting associate |
| Barbara Harris | ... | adr voice casting |
| Nancy Hayes | ... | casting location |
| Raquel Osborne | ... | extras location casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Michael Becker | ... | costumer |
| Amanda Chamberlin | ... | costumer: Ms. Goldberg |
| Barbara Hartman-Jenichen | ... | costumer |
| Mary Elizabeth Still | ... | costumer |
| Eileen Sieff Stroup | ... | wardrobe supervisor (as Eileen Mae Sieff) |
Location Management
| Nathan Gendzier | ... | location manager |
| Debra A. Girard | ... | location manager (as Debra Girard) |
| Charles Miller | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| John Brown | ... | music coordinator: Third Stone |
| Carole Childs | ... | music supervisor: Elektra Records |
| Wade Culbreath | ... | musician: percussion |
| Sandy De Crescent | ... | music contractor (as Sandy DeCrescent) |
| David Fanshawe | ... | music recordist: "Ngoma Ra Mrongo" |
| Bonnie Greenberg | ... | music business affairs |
| Jabali Hicks | ... | music coordinator: Third Stone |
| Karen Kloack | ... | music coordinator: Third Stone |
| Stephen Krause | ... | score engineer (as Steve Krause) |
| Lebo M. | ... | music arranger: African music |
| Jill Meyers | ... | music business affairs |
| Amos Newman | ... | music supervisor: Elektra Records |
| Mark Portmann | ... | music programmer |
| Henley Regisford | ... | music coordinator: Third Stone (as Junior Regisford) |
| Betty Rosen | ... | music coordinator: Third Stone |
| Richard Rudolph | ... | music supervisor (as Dick Rudolph) |
| Kim Scharnberg | ... | orchestra and arrangements |
| Richard Whitfield | ... | music editor |
| Paul Wright III | ... | music producer |
| Tom Boyd | ... | oboe (uncredited) |
| George Doering | ... | musician (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Pamela Alch | ... | script supervisor |
| Carrie Fisher | ... | rewrites (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Alan Collis | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Vic Cuccia | ... | driver: Ms. Goldberg |
| Saul Jurkunas | ... | driver |
| John R. Lopez | ... | driver: Mr. Danson |
| Michael Sean Ryan | ... | driver: Mr. Benjamin |
| Bubba Thrift | ... | transportation (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Katherine Agard | ... | assistant: Mr. Reuther |
| Mary Arnold | ... | assistant: Mr. Reuther |
| Shauna Beal | ... | first assistant: Mr. Milchan |
| Oscar Briones | ... | production assistant |
| Candace Crump | ... | stand-in: 'Sarah' |
| Peter DePalma | ... | assistant: Mr. Douglas |
| Christopher Desmond | ... | medic |
| Chick Elwell | ... | teamster captain |
| Robert A. Eppley | ... | orthopedic surgical consultant |
| Joe Everett | ... | unit publicist |
| Renee Featherstone | ... | assistant: Mr. Douglas |
| Erin Fiedler | ... | production secretary |
| Ada Gabovan | ... | assistant: Mr. Palmer |
| George Gee | ... | projectionist |
| Alan Greenwald | ... | orthopedic surgical consultant |
| Janet Hayen | ... | copyist |
| Ida Lee Henderson | ... | production accountant |
| Brian Hofstetter | ... | production assistant |
| Ron Holder | ... | assistant: Ms. Goldberg |
| Brian Jay | ... | production assistant |
| Annamarie Maricle Jennaway | ... | assistant: Mr. Benjamin |
| Gary Johnson | ... | elephant trainer |
| Kari Johnson | ... | elephant trainer |
| Catherine M. Jones | ... | assistant production accountant (as Catherine Jones) |
| Keith Jones | ... | animal trainer |
| Saul Jurkunas | ... | cook |
| Carol Lille | ... | chimp trainer |
| Greg Lille | ... | chimp trainer |
| Donna Martin | ... | animal trainer |
| Steve Martin | ... | animal supplier / animal trainer (as Steve E. Martin) |
| Natalia Matthews | ... | production assistant |
| Jim McCarthy | ... | post-production accountant |
| Seven McDonald | ... | production assistant |
| Heidi McGuire | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Rob McWilliams | ... | video consultant |
| Richard D. Montoya | ... | assistant choreographer |
| John Murphy | ... | production assistant: Los Angeles |
| Pamela Murphy | ... | assistant: Ms. Schiff |
| Sean O'Kane | ... | stand-in for ted danson |
| Patty Reid | ... | assistant: Mr. Milchan |
| Jay Roberts | ... | assistant production accountant |
| Rick Rozzini | ... | assistant choreographer |
| David M. Rudder | ... | promotions |
| Joseph A. Ruzecki | ... | production assistant |
| Charlie Sammut | ... | animal trainer (uncredited) |
| Kathy Sarreal | ... | production coordinator |
| Michael Sax | ... | stand-in: 'Hal' |
| Diane Seniw | ... | assistant production accountant |
| Ed Sienkaniec | ... | caterer (as Ed 'Bubka' Sienkaniec) |
| Norma Smith | ... | financial representative: New Regency |
| Peter Stelzer | ... | assistant: Mr. Danson |
| Gerry Therrien | ... | animal trainer (as Jerry Therrien) |
| Kevin F. Walsh | ... | production assistant |
| Addis Wechsler | ... | management: Mr. Danson and Ms. Goldberg |
| James J. Wilhelm | ... | craft service |
| Lester Wilson | ... | choreographer |
| Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc | ... | helicopter pilot: aerial unit |
| Curran G. Engel | ... | set production assistant (uncredited) |
| Barbara Farrar | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Carrie Fisher | ... | script doctor (uncredited) |
| Francesca Prada | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Carrie Specht | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
Thanks
| William Alluns Jr. | ... | thanks |
| Dick Cepek | ... | thanks |
| Marin Dodge | ... | thanks |
| Betty Gadling | ... | thanks |
| Wayman Henry | ... | thanks |
| Jeannie Rucker | ... | thanks |
| Anthony Williams | ... | thanks (as Reverend Anthony Williams) |
| Lester Wilson | ... | in loving memory |
Production Companies
- Canal+ (presents)
- New Regency Productions (presents)
- Alcor Films (presents)
- Stonebridge Entertainment
- Kalola Productions
Distributors
- Warner Bros. (1993) (United States) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (France) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1995) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Warner Home Video (1993) (Germany) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1994) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
- Warner Home Video (1994) (United States) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1994) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Warner Home Video (2004) (United States) (DVD)
- Gemini Film (1994) (Russia) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1993) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Argentina Video Home (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Disney+ (2022) (United Kingdom) (video) (VOD) (Star)
- Justbridge Entertainment (2019) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Justbridge Entertainment (2019) (Germany) (DVD)
- NITV (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- TBS Superstation (2001) (United States) (tv) (broadcast premiere)
- Warner Home Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Boston Light & Sound (location projection)
- City of Berkeley, California (the producers wish to thank)
- City of Oakland (the producers wish to thank)
- Color By Deluxe (acknowledgement)
- Deluxe Entertainment Services (color)
- Dick Cepek Company (the producers wish to thank)
- Dolby Laboratories
- Elektra Records (soundtrack)
- For Stars Catering (catering)
- Goin' Ape (chimp trained by)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA) (no. 32162)
- Pacific Title (titles and opticals)
- Panavision (filmed with) (cameras and lenses)
- Steve Martin's Working Wildlife (animals)
- Technicolor (prints)
- Twentieth Century Fox (courtesy of: "The Little Princess" footage)
- University of California Berkeley (the producers wish to thank)
- Visual Icon (exclusive clip and still licensing)
- Westinghouse Electric Company (the producers wish to thank)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In the Bay Area, widowed Sarah Mathews and her high school senior daughter Zora Mathews are intellectuals who embrace their African roots, Sarah who owns and operates a store all things African called African Queen. Despite often fighting, they truly do love each other. That love is why Sarah would rather Zora attend Berkeley for her freshman year than science prodigy Zora's first choice of M.I.T. on the other side of the country. Caught in a lie, Sarah is forced to admit to Zora that her husband Charlie, who died before Zora was born and who was the love of her life, is not Zora's biological father as Zora has always believed, but that she was conceived via artificial insemination using anonymous sperm from a sperm bank. Determined to have a man in her life she can truly call a "Dad" all her own, Zora, with the help of her longtime best friend Tea Cake Walton, is able to break into the sperm bank's computerized records to find the donor's information, including his name: Hal Jackson. Zora is horrified to learn several things about Hal: that he is *the* Hal Jackson, a local car salesman well known for using tacky methods of advertising; that he is boorish and loutish, stereotypical of his business; but arguably most importantly, that he is Caucasian as in white, white, white, and not even a little black. Both Sarah and Hal, when told Zora's discovery, are taken aback, Sarah in particular incensed that such an error could have been made in having requested a black donor if Zora is indeed a product of Hal's sperm. With the proverbial cat out of the bag, all three have to decide what to do with the information including if Hal should be a part of Zora and thus by association Sarah's life. The information does make Hal at least examine his life, including two so far failed marriages, and now living with a vacuous and stereotypical blonde named Stacy. And despite who Hal is, Sarah and Zora may see him ultimately in a different light than they intended and in a light different than what they would have wanted for the other. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | At the sperm-bank she asked for a tall, intelligent, black man. One out of three ain't bad. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $22,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $11,800,000 |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $60,000,000 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The character Hal Jackson was based on Cal Worthington, owner of the Worthington Dealership Group, who often appeared in car dealership commercials with exotic animals. See more » |
| Goofs | Placement of fruit in bowl during the love scene. The fruit is kicked out by Sarah's foot, then is neatly back in place moments later. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Made in America/Menace II Society/Cliffhanger/Hot Shots! Part Deux/The Long Day Closes (1993). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Go Away See more » |
| Quotes |
Hal Jackson:
Yeah, I read black literature. Wilt Chamberlain book. Changed my life. See more » |