'The Best Man Holiday' Keeps It Moving

The last time we saw this group of friends from The Best Man, they had kissed and made up and danced at the wedding of Lance and Mia.  They had their whole lives ahead of them and things look bright and shiny.

Well, 14 years later the gang is all here in the sequel The Best Man Holiday, released nationwide today.   It looks as if time has stopped for the entire cast – with all of them looking the same after more than a decade.

Back for more of life’s real moments, coupled with drama, passion, love and perceived betrayal, are Jordan (Nia Long),  Harper (Taye Diggs),  Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Lance (Morris Chestnut), Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), Quentin (Terrence Howard), Mia (Monica Calhoun),  Candace (Regina Hall) and Julian (Harold Perrineau).  This time around Eddie Cibrian Brian joins the cast at Brian, the love interest of Jordan.

 

(l-r) MORRIS CHESTNUT, TAYE DIGGS, 

MICHAEL PERRINEAU and TERRENCE HOWARD

This time around, in the romantic comedy/dramedy, some are still single, some have found true love, others have married and had children and some still have some serious issues.  But, what hasn’t changed is their solid friendship and their resolve to have each other’s backs.

Mia and Lance (Morris Chestnut), a superstar Giants running back have four children and a seemingly perfect life. But Mia desperately misses her old friends, who have drifted apart. So despite Lance’s reluctance, she invites them all to their suburban mansion for Christmas.

Of course everyone shows up and that’s when the fun begins. Best-selling author Harper has an ulterior motive for attending. His pregnant wife, Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) would prefer not to be around his old flame, (Long), but makes the best of it.

 

SANAA LATHAN

 

Candace (Regina Hall) is now married to Julian (Harold Perrineau) and has children. Julian’s former wife, Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), who also has a child, mixes it up with Candace as they wrestle for his attention. The comic relief comes from the mischievous and confirmed bachelor Quentin (Terrence Howard), who continues to instigate.

This film does not disappoint. It’s loads of fun and filled with emotion. Director Malcolm D. Lee does a masterful job of continuing the franchise.

If you liked The Best Man, then hold on to your hats because there is even more fun in The Best Man Holiday.

However, a wrench has been thrown into the mix, which could leave some fans shaking their heads.

The story works, the actors’ chemistry is on point, the director is solid.  The ending leaves it wide open for yet another sequel.  The anticipation has already started.

 

MONICA CALHOUN, MELISSA De SOUSA and NIA LONG

 

It would be great to see these character on a weekly basis in a television series. Malcolm D. Lee and Universal Pictures are you listening?

The Best Man Holiday is written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee.

On the DONLOE SCALE D (don’t bother), O (oh, no) N (needs work), L (likeable), O (Okey dOkey) and E (excellent), The Best Man Holiday gets an E (excellent).