The Best Man Holiday, 2013.
Written and Directed by Malcolm D. Lee.
Starring Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau and Eddie Cibrian.
SYNOPSIS:
When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.
It’s been 15 years since The Best Man was released in theaters. The film was met with modest praise and went on to become somewhat of a cult classic following its release. Now the gang is all back in The Best Man Holiday which picks up 15 years later with everybody in the cast returning, as well as director Malcolm D. Lee.
This time around the gang is getting together for the holidays. Once everyone is together old rivalries and romances are brought back up as well as some new conflicts and issues. Harper (Taye Diggs) hasn’t had a bestseller since his last book, which set off his best friend Lance (Morris Chestnut) after revealing that Harper had slept with his wife Mia (Monica Calhoun). Harper has a new book in mind, this time about Lance’s football career, but he doesn’t want to bring it up to him in fear that he won’t want it to be written. Elsewhere, Julian (Harold Perrineau) has found a sex tape of his former stripper wife Candace (Regina Hall), Shelby (Monica De Sousa) is trying to break up Julian and Candace, Jordan (Nia Long) is dating a new man but still has some feelings for Harper and Quentin (Terrence Howard) is up to his usual antics.
Even though this film is coming 15 years after the first one, it doesn’t really feel like anything was lost in between. All of the actors jump right back into their characters and all of the chemistry between everyone feels very genuine. The cast is solid once again with everyone stepping up to the plate in all of their scenes whether they be comedic or more on the dramatic side. Malcolm D. Lee handles the transition of comedy and drama quite well because things do get pretty dramatic at times but he knows the right moments to insert the humor.
The one big problem here is the runtime; just like the first film this one runs just a little bit too long. A couple of scenes could have been taken out especially the ones where the drama is just a little too heavy. It’s hard to believe this was marketed as a holiday family film. Another thing that could have been cut out is the character of Shelby. She really didn’t serve much of a purpose, other than to stir up some drama. Other than those few gripes the film is still quite entertaining, even if there isn’t anything that really makes it standout all that much.
In the end, The Best Man Holiday provides enough laughs and tear jerking moments to make it worth watching. Everyone in the cast does a good job together and if you were a fan of the first film then you should enjoy this one as well.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Jake Peffer
Originally published May 5, 2014. Updated April 12, 2018.
