THE BEST MAN'S HOLIDAY

US, 2013, 123 minutes, Colour.
Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa, Taye Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Eddie Cybrian.
Directed by Malcolm D.Lee.

The Best Man’s Holiday is a rather belated sequel to The Best Man, released 1999.

While the film has African- American cast an appeal to an African- American audience, it is nevertheless an entertainment, with reflection, for a wider audience.

This sequel introduces the same characters, with a collage at the beginning to remind audiences of the original film, and then sets them in new directions around Christmas. Taye Diggs is the successful author now with writer’s block. He is concerned about his wife as they are having a child by artificial insemination. On the other hand, there is the footballer, Morris Chestnut, whose wedding it was in the original film - but his wife slept with the author. There has been hostility ever since, with the author now being advised to write a biography of the footballer. Also along is a pleasant character who is involved in fundraising, and his wife who, it is revealed, was a stripper before her marriage. There are also the outsiders, one cynical, one sexually active. There is a difference in this film with the black publisher in a relationship with a white boyfriend.

The characters were created by Malcolm D. Lee who directs again, obviously with the great familiarity with his characters, the cast drawing them with some insight.

1. The popularity of the original film in 1999: characters, like stories, the wedding, betrayal’s infidelity, the consequences?

2. 14 years later, 21st-century life? The opening, collage and the re-introduction of the characters and their situations?

3. An African American story, characters, crises, middle-class characters, wealth? Comparisons with the white community? Links?

4. The Christmas setting, the holiday, homes and mansions, deals for writing books, offices, football and sport situations, outings, Christmas songs, the musical score?

5. Harper, the attempts for his wife to become pregnant, in vitro methods, the need for finance? The success of his book, the new manuscript, the editor turning him down? His fears about the future, the baby, finance? Going to see Jordan, the talk? The possibility of doing a biography, keeping quiet about it but accepting it? Making notes, finding a title? The meeting? The clash with Haper’s dalliance at the time of the wedding, his wife and the sexual relationship? The years passing, attention, not wanting to meet Lance? Robin, her concern about her pregnancy, with the other women, Jordan and the touch of jealousy?

6. Jordan, job, her relationship with Brian, his being quiet? Her bond with the rest of the group? Brian going to the holiday reunion? Concern? His having to leave for his own family, his return?

7. Lance, sports reputation, achievement, the critiques? His wife, the children? His wife’s illness, keeping it secret? The women responding to her illness? Harper’s response? Her cheerfulness, keeping going, bed-ridden?

8. Julian, his job, the charity, raising money? The video of his wife, as a stripper? His response? His love for his children? Clashes with his wife, her anger, memories of the past? The clash with Shelby, Candace’s suspicions? The compromise, Shelby offering money?

9. Quentin, the observer, man about town, free, interactions with Shelby, kids, the affair, possible marriage?

10. Shelby, her style, the divorce, her daughter and humiliating, brash, clashes, rivalries, jealousies, Julian, but with Quentin?

11. Happy sequences, the meals, the song and dance routine? The outings, church?

12. The background sport, Lance’s reactions, the commentators, his playing? Everybody watching?

13. Harper and Lance, understanding, reconciliation, the collaboration?

14. Time passing, the success of the biography, individuals happy – and the possibility for a sequel?