Watch out. I'm about to be controversial.

Next month sees Steve Martin and Queen Latifah aiming for belly laughs in "Bringing Down the House", already a Number One hit at the US box office. But American critics are considerably less enthralled with the movie, panning it on "moral grounds".

You see folks, apparently this movie is "racist".

The thing that concerned me most on reading this coverage is that I've been to see the film and, um, well, OK, look, here's the thing (gulp): I laughed.

Yes, that's right. I confess. And, if what I've read about this film is correct, then I must be some kind of bigot. But I know that's not the case.

I am not a racist, nor do I believe that Steve Martin, or Queen Latifah, or any of the personnel involved in "Bringing Down the House" are racists.

To my mind, they're just doing what comedians do. They're sending up the stereotypes. Take away this privilege and we're left with "Just Married" and Joe Pasquale.

(And in a world like that you can forget about social harmony, because that'd be enough to swing Susan Sarandon in favour of the NRA.)

The real problem is that stereotypes do (and will always) exist and it's not because we've seen it at the movies – the silver screen only reflects what's going on 'out there'. Leaving out the convoluted politics, it's because, as human beings, we are instinctually given to making value judgments on the basis of appearance.

Beyond that, we all have the power to rationalise – although it seems many US film critics doubt it.

I wouldn't have a problem with the criticism of "Bringing Down the House" if it dealt honestly with the unimaginative dialogue, or pedestrian plot, but instead these (genuine) points are filtered through a sieve of political correctness.

Now, I hate to get all Open University about it, but any self-respecting sociologist will tell you that comedy is the oldest trick in the book when it comes to breaking down social barriers (as opposed to leftwing film journalism).

In the words of that great Western philosopher, Bill Cosby, "If you can laugh at it, you can survive it."

On the other hand, Bill might say, "Bringing Down the House" plays on the prejudice of an audience to get laughs. But following that logic, I'd have to believe that every white person from Minnesota is a naïve simpleton based on watching "Fargo"; or that all Jews are self-obsessed malcontents on the basis of every Woody Allen film.

Being Greek, I've been asked on many occasions whether I found the broad comedy of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" offensive. My answer? "No!" Of course the truth of what it means to be Greek is manipulated in the movie, but that’s how comedy works.

And if you can't understand that, then you must be from Minnesota...