THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY

 I watched another good movie from Red Box the other day, one that brought a tear to my eye and questions to my mind - like, "Why didn't I like the original - The Best Man?" I remember that movie as being disappointing and predictable. With a basis of the original a bit cloudy, I went in with a more open mind and came out thinking this was well worth watching. "The Best Man Holiday" was very good at keeping you interested and it wasn't just the dazzling smiles from the ladies. I enjoyed it more than expected.

Terrance Howard was his normal, smoking self (note to Terrance: It's NOT a prop it's just NASTY!), Sanaa Lathan was a not-so-glowing mother-to-be, Nia Long is dazzling as usual, Monica Calhoun is eye candy, even as a mother to 4 kids and ill, Regina Hall plays a believable ex-stripper, and Melissa De Sousa seems born to play a "Housewife of  Westchester". The cast is interesting enough to want to see what happens if you suspend the belief that no way would they be friends for real!

I HAD to look back and find out if my memory is swiss-cheesed or not.

The Best Man was about a writer and his friends. His first book involves all of them to some degree and he knows it will bring about some chaos. The release of it is supposed to be later in the year, but an advanced copy has fallen in to the wrong hands! The characters were all interesting in their own way, but the lead (Taye Diggs) was just unlikeable to me. His girlfriend has no reason to want to be with him, yet there she is. I didn't really cheer for him, when he gets punched in the face, I didn't feel for him. It's a real problem for me if I get that feeling about someone, as the rest of the movie is affected in my mind.

Anyway, the movie moves along in the journey of the book's revelation - they are all in it and not portrayed in ways they approve. No one seems to appreciate the explanation of the so-called fictitious characters and a bomb goes off when his best friend figures out his bride-to-be is not as pure as he thought. When I returned to this movie a second time, it wasn't as bad as I remember but I still wouldn't rate it as a must-see, unless you wanted to watch the sequel.

The biggest test, of course,  as they set it up for a Part 3, did you WANT to see it? I can say I do and will.