Directed by Malcolm D. Lee.
2013. Rated R, 123 minutes.
Cast:
Melissa De Sousa
Monica Calhoun
When last we saw our gang of friends, way back in 1999, things culminated
in a beautiful wedding for Lance (Chestnut) and Mia (Calhoun). All these years
later, they've all moved on to bigger and better things. We pick up the story
with Lance and Mia inviting the whole crew over to their place for the week of
Christmas. Everyone is on board, no problem, except Harper (Diggs). It turns
out things between he and Lance haven't been so good in the intervening years.
The events of The Best Man, seems to have irreparably
damaged their friendship. Nonetheless, he agrees to go because he has an
ulterior motive. His last few books have flopped. His next one may not see the
light of day. He has also lost his teaching job at NYU, his wife Robin (Lathan)
is pregnant with their first child, and the bills are piling up. At the urging
of his agent, he plans on writing a biography on Lance, the football hero. One
slight problem. He hasn't actually mentioned this to Lance. The playing out of
this situation and a number of others ensues.
In case you were wondering, the entire cast does indeed reprise their roles
from the original. Julian (Perrineau) really did marry Candy (Hall), the
stripper. Though she no longer does that sort of thing, her past comes back to
haunt them in a big way. Jordan (Long) is a media mogul of sorts, still
incredibly driven and beautiful. I just had to mention the beautiful part. I
mean, it is Nia Long, dammit. I digress. She is also still single, but dating
Brian (Cibrian), the only newcomer and only Caucasian. Both of these matter for
at least a few minutes. Quentin (Howard) is a successful ad man and still a
mischevious button pusher. Finally, Shelby (De Sousa) is a reality TV star more
concerned with building her brand than anything else. In true sequel fashion,
each person plays a bigger, badder version of themselves. Their most memorable
traits take center stage and never leave. In general, this works. The one issue
is that leves the characters with a flatter feel to them.
Even if the players aren't as well-rounded as they once were, they are
still a fun bunch to be around. They make us laugh on a fairly consistent basis
as each member of the ensembl, usually two at a time, takes turns in the
spotlight. When their turn is done, they fade into the background just enough
to still be seen until they are either tasked to give counsel to one of the
others, or take over the proceedings once more. It essentially becomes a game
of hot potato with the cast quickly passing our attention our their circle.
All of that tossing us around is where the movie gets into a bit of
trouble. Director Malcolm D. Lee might be a world class juggler. However, even
the best have limits. At times, it feels as if he's reached his, but threw one
more ball in the air anyway. To his credit, he ties the stoires together
organically and in a manner that is never confusing. It can just feel as if the
system is dangerously close to overloading. Thankfully, a cast which is more
than game makes it all a joy to watch. They are uniformly excellent. Even so,
Terrence Howard and Melissa De Sousa stand out as doing particularly nice work.
They help maintain a sense of fun, even as things start to get heavy during the
final act.
This last portion of Best Man Holiday is where it might
lose some of you. Though what's going on with Mia is telegraphed practically
from the moment people start arriving at her house, the movie still shifts hard
into tear-jerker mode. It pulls mightily at our heartstrings. Judging by the
crowd I watched with, including my wife and a cousin of hers, it's effective.
If, like me, you're not prone to crying over movies, it can start to feel very
manipulative. What was a fun, occasionally raunchy ensemble comedy devolves
into a profit driver for Kleenex. I say this fully realizing that people who do
cry over movies are much more inclined to love the films that move them to
tears. Personally, I like it a good deal. I just don't love it.
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