Made in America (1993 film)

Made in America

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	1993 (1993)
Headquarters	Oakland, California , United States
Products	Comedy film

Made in America, a 1993 American comedy film, features performances by Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson, alongside Nia Long, Jennifer Tilly, and Will Smith. Directed by Richard Benjamin, the movie was shot on location in Oakland, California, including scenes filmed at Oakland Technical High School.

The film’s soundtrack includes the song "Colors of Love," composed by Carole Bayer Sager, James Ingram, and Bruce Roberts, with production by David Foster. This track echoes the central themes of the movie.

Plot

Zora Matthews learns that her blood type does not match that of her late parents, leading her to discover that her mother, Sarah, used a sperm bank following her husband’s death, specifying a preference for an intelligent black donor.

Driven by curiosity, Zora enlists her friend Tea Cake to impersonate a donor while she investigates the sperm bank records, uncovering a match with Halbert Jackson. She confronts Hal at his upscale home and workplace, only to find he is white. Hal, an ostentatious car salesman, dismisses her allegations with indifference.

Sarah addresses Hal about his behavior; despite their contrasting personalities, he offers to drive her home after she rides her bike intoxicated. Sarah owns "African Queen," a store focusing on black authors and adorned with photographs of Zora and Sarah’s deceased husband Charles.

Hal reveals moments of vulnerability while watching a father-daughter scene in a movie. His unconventional advertising tactics include bringing an elephant to the dealership, which causes disruption but significantly increases sales through media attention.

Hal makes amends with Sarah by presenting gifts and encourages Zora’s aspirations by giving her an atlas. Meanwhile, his assistant Diego takes Zora out on a date, prompting Hal to invite Sarah to dinner; their evening ends with a kiss interrupted by Zora’s unexpected arrival, creating tension.

The relationship between Sarah and Hal becomes strained after an argument results in Sarah getting hurt while cycling without her new helmet. At the hospital, blood tests confirm Hal is not Zora’s biological father, leading to apologies and eventual reconciliation.

Zora graduates with a Westinghouse scholarship to attend MIT, acknowledging her mother during her speech. Hal participates in the ceremony, embracing his role as Zora’s father figure alongside Sarah.

Cast

• Whoopi Goldberg as Sarah Matthews
• Ted Danson as Halbert "Hal" Jackson
• Will Smith as Tea Cake Walters
• Nia Long as Zora Matthews
• Paul Rodriguez as Jose
• Jennifer Tilly as Stacy
• Peggy Rea as Alberta, Hal's secretary
• Clyde Kusatsu as Bob Takashima
• David Bowe as Teddy
• Jeff Joseph as James
• Shawn Levy as Dwayne
• Rawley Valverde as Diego
• Charlene Fernetz as Paula the car saleswoman

Production

After casting Goldberg, the script was revised to prominently feature black actors.

Homage

The character of Hal Jackson is inspired by car dealer Cal Worthington, particularly his use of exotic animals in advertisements, referencing Worthington’s famous "My Dog Spot" commercials.

Soundtrack

Issued on May 28, 1993, the soundtrack comprises:

1. Gloria Estefan – "Go Away" (U.S. #103; UK #13)
2. Keith Sweat and Silk – "Does He Do It Good"
3. Del Tha Funkee Homosapien – "Made in America"
4. Lisa Fischer – "Colors of Love" (U.S. AC #18, R&B #24)
5. Sérgio Mendes – "What Is This?"
6. Mark Isham – "Made In Love"
7. Laura Satterfield and Ephraim Lewis – "I Know I Don't Walk on Water"
8. DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince – "Dance or Die"
9. Deep Purple – "Smoke on the Water"
10. Ben E. King – "If You Need a Miracle"
11. Y.T. Style – "Stand"

Reception

Released on May 28, 1993, across more than 2,000 theaters, the movie debuted with a $12 million box office take during its opening weekend, securing the second position behind Cliffhanger. It went on to accumulate close to $50 million in domestic revenue and surpassed $100 million worldwide. This film served as an important early acting opportunity for television personality and Grammy-winning rapper Will Smith, effectively jumpstarting his prominent career in film.

From a critical standpoint, Made in America was met with predominantly unfavorable reviews, holding a 32% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, Roger Ebert commended Goldberg's acting, acknowledging that while the film was not exceptional, it remained "a pleasant one."