if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I'm truly puzzled by the bad reviews and ire this movie garnered. It deals with some very complex issues - for example: is having on-campus housing which is exclusively for black students segregation or culturally aware? "Dear White People" isn't great film-making ... but it tackles difficult issues which are NOT black and white (pun intended) ... but rather many shades of gray. Some reviewers slammed the movie for being racist. Huh? People want to live in a bubble and pretend racism no longer exists. The pictures of real life "black-face parties" on various college campuses which rolled on the ending credits show that racism is alive and well -just more insidious since we are supposed to be "past" it. "Dear White People" isn't racist ... but it is about racism. I think most of the bad reviews were from people who didn't like their "racism is no longer an issue" bubble burst. The movie was a bit heavy-handed in places but I liked the characters. I enjoyed the sense of irony and humor.

I thought that the movie started off being very humorous then slowly became more and more serious as it went on; heading towards the finish line it felt to me almost like a documentary on race and the consequences of racism and its inevitable reaction.The acting was generally very good, as were the production values and the story idea. I have watched Black-ish and am not sure if it is my imagination or not, but there seems to be a rise of race motivated comedy and satire: towards the end of the Obama-era and heading into Trump-time.As a Limey, I found the film hard to follow at points, due the large amount of American cultural references.I would say that it would not be everyone's' cup of tea and probably doesn't translate too well outside of the USA; but apart from that most American adults would probably find the film worth having a look at.

In a nation where racism exists in so-called "micro-aggressions", the African-American community may be able to relate to this film in incredibly minute ways. Obviously this film is a dramatization and exaggeration of "post-racial" America but it ultimately gives me the vibe of "two wrongs make a right".The film portrays white college students stereotyping black ones, giving white college students a stereotype. Now, presently being a white college student myself, I feel offended. I do not and will not ever attend a party in which I paint myself black and hold a pistol in someone's face to emphasize my belief in a stereotypical African- American citizen (or criminal).I think, instead of fighting fire with fire, we must come together as one community and throw the color of our skin out the window. People MUST be judged by their abilities, talents, experience, etc.Now for the film, the acting was horrendously awful but the plot was very unique. The dialogue at times would lose me but I do believe that was the objective. Many, many intertexts referenced which is an interesting technique. Cinematography was a little rough as well.I'd say I'd recommend this movie to black friends but some non- racist white people would definitely take offense to this movie because they simply cannot relate to the white characters. Maybe the racist one's will laugh.

I was not sure how I felt about this film until gave it more thought after viewing it. I was thrown a bit because James was not really the star. I thought he might play the Greek chorus role, narrating and summarizing what was happening as the movie progressed. While Lionel had some impact toward the end, it seemed that he was just another student whose experiences came to the forefront on occasion in the midst of other events. His actions at the party seemed tacked on rather than a depiction of actual anger. He seemed too detached up to that event to care that much. The scene that struck me the most was when Dean Fairbanks (Dennis Haysbert-"The Unit") lectured his son. It was what he didn't say that was important. He told his son, in subtle terms, that hanging out and acting like the white frat boys would sink his ambitions. If Spike has written this speech, I believe he would have been more explicit. I believe Mr. Lee would have said, in no uncertain terms, that those "white boys" had their futures set for them as long as they didn't blow it completely. The path to the executive suite, law firm partnership or high political office was already theirs as long as they followed the tried and true path set for them by their parents. College was a just a step along the way. Graduation (not high grades) is all that is needed. He didn't tell him explicitly that these same people would be the ones leaking information about his past if he ever came in competition with them. Their families and friends could protect them; his could not. He would have told him that he was mistaken to believe that he was equal by merely attending the same school. That soliloquy and what it suggested comprised some of the movies' best lines.The party scene, offensive enough on its own, took on new meaning during the credits, which reported that parties like this one were occurring today at the nation's college campuses. A sad indictment that informs us the notion of racial equality is still a pipe dream in the US of A, generations from fruition. The children have, unfortunately, been "taught well."