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| Directed by Malcolm D. Lee; Starring Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau Jr., Terrence Dashon Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Calhoun, Melissa DeSousa, and Victoria Dillard |
The Best Man is part of a genre in the African American film community that I always seem to welcome. I get tired of the gangster films and the mean-spirited comedies, so when a light, nice film comes from the community, I’m always happy. It has only happened one time previously this year with The Wood, which I gave a marginal thumb down. The second, and probably only other film in the genre this year is The Best Man, a film I think is flawed, but better than The Wood. The Best Man is one of those My Best Friend’s Wedding comedies that work on their own turf. If you’re in the mood for Menace II Society, then The Best Man is not the film to see, just like My Best Friend’s Wedding as compared to Good Fellas. The fact of the matter is that The Best Man is a likable film that would only be liked by those that like that type of film (I know, too many likes, so sue me).
The film follows what happens when six friends come together to watch two of them get married. The couple is Lance (Chestnut) and Mia (Calhoun); Lance is a football superstar ready to settle down, Mia a supposed monogamous love for the Lance. On the weekend before the wedding, Holden (Diggs) enters. Everything would be fine for the everybody if it was not for the fact that Jordan (Long), an ex-love of Holden, has obtained a preview copy of Holden’s semi-autobiographical novel. With his secrets out for everybody to read, the deepest, darkest secret sees light and there is chance that his novel will ruin the wedding.
The film is sweet and fuzzy, and enjoyable in that light. In fact I was rather happy with the film up until the end. The last ten minutes of the film is so predictable, so sappy, so, well, easy. I would have liked to think that the director/screenwriter might have had a little more thought in the project for its entire duration. Instead he fails in the entire messed-up conclusion.
As for the other aspects of the film, Diggs and Long have great chemistry in the film, shining in roles beyond anything I’ve seen them in before. I thought that Chestnut was a little weak, eating the scenery in every frame. The comic relief of Howard as Quentin was enjoyable, with some moments of being rather routine.
The set-up is great, its just the follow through that causes this film to get a very marginal thumb down.
