Today’s Prayer Focus

The Best Man Holiday

MPA Rating: R-Rating (MPA)

for language, sexual content and brief nudity.

Moral Rating:	not reviewed
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:	Adults
Genre:	Romance Comedy Sequel
Length:	2 hr. 3 min.
Year of Release:	2013
USA Release:	November 15, 2013 (wide—2,024 theaters) DVD: February 11, 2014

Relevant Issues

Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Christian answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more. Valuable resources for Christian couples, singles and pastors.

What is the TRUE meaning of Christmas? Answers for skeptics. Plus carols, games, coloring pages, reviews of Christmas movies, and more.

REVIEWS of “Christmas” movies

Featuring	Terrence Howard … Quentin Sanaa Lathan … Robyn Nia Long … Jordan Armstrong Morris Chestnut … Lance Sullivan Harold Perrineau … Julian Murch Taye Diggs … Harper Stewart Eddie Cibrian … Brian McDaniels Regina Hall … Candy See all » Melissa De Sousa … Shelby Monica Calhoun … Mia Morgan Elle Downs Shailene Garnett … Jordan’s Assistant Millie Davis … Hope Catherine Bruhier … Dr. Perkins Atif Lanier … NY Giants Defensive Back Tamara Almeida … Hot Co-Worker Eddie George … Himself Allison Augustin … Keisha Austin Davis … NY Giant Defensive Lineman Riele Downs … Faith Linden Liles-McCurdy … Lance Jr (LJ) Frank Ridley … Coach A.J. Verel … New York Giants Defense Coach Renes Rivera … Bellingham (Falcons Nose Guard) Colin Reboy … Ball Boy Paulina B. Abarca … Esmerelda Miles Stroter … Lonnie (Lance’s Best Friend On Team #77) Michael Dugan … New York Giants Running Backs Coach (credit only) Isis Moore … Kennedy Richie Lawrence … August Kweku Hayford … Ball Boy Mick O’Keefe … Santa Claus Football Fan Shai Pierre-Dixon … Kelly John Kreuzer … Giants Coach Frankie Villa … NY Giants Assistant Coach Angel Izard … Football Fan Dominic Mendez … Sideline Photographer
Director	Malcolm D. Lee — “Undercover Brother,” “The Best Man,” “Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins”
Producer	Universal Pictures Blackmaled Productions See all » Sean Daniel Company Sean Daniel … producer Preston L. Holmes … executive producer Malcolm D. Lee … producer
Distributor	Universal Pictures

“Times change. Friendship doesn’t.”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “After nearly 15 years apart, Taye Diggs (television's Private Practice), Nia Long (Soul Food), Morris Chestnut (Kick-Ass 2), Harold Perrineau (Zero Dark Thirty), Terrence Howard (Hustle & Flow), Sanaa Lathan (Contagion), Monica Calhoun (Love & Basketball), Melissa De Sousa (Miss Congeniality) and Regina Hall (Scary Movie franchise) reprise their career-launching roles in ‘The Best Man Holiday,’ the long-awaited next chapter to the film that ushered in a new era of comedy. When the college friends finally reunite over the Christmas holidays, they will discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be ignited.

A follow-up to the 1999 film, ‘The Best Man’, which centers on a writer whose recent autobiography put him at odds with being the Best Man at his friend’s wedding.”

Prequel:

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.

Positive

Positive—First off I wanted to say that I loved this movie, it was a great sequel to the first one. I applaud Malcolm Lee for adding God and Faith in this movie. I guess my question is, They said God’s name a few times, and all the other times they referred to him as “He” and during the funeral scene the Bible is covered so you cannot read what it says. I’m sure Malcolm did what he could to make sure we got the concept that it was all Christian based, I am curious if all the big Hollywood people only allowed them to do so much.

They never say God as in Heaven in the movie, although Christians know that is what they mean, but other people have their own that they call God, not like us Christians. People get so offended by religion these days, but again Loved the movie, I would definitely watch it again and love that they added so much Christianity into it.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5

Anon, age 23 (USA)

Movie Critics

…African-American “Big Chill” has enjoyable moments of raucous humor and way too much schmaltz. …

Stephen Farber, The Hollywood Reporter

…How the rich and beautiful celebrate Christmas… although sprinkled with bad behaviour and salty bon mots, is traditional right to the twinkly-tipped top of the tree. …[2/4]

Geoff Pevere, The Globe and Mail

…Busy “Best Man Holiday” improves on original… A full plate of tear-jerking drama is served here. And it’s even tastier than the first time around. …

Kevin C. Johnson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

…Lee plays his audience exceptionally well. …it is marvelous. … [4½5]

Kimberley Jones, The Austin Chronicle

…Yes, it’s occasionally maudlin and melodramatic, and it’s entirely too long. But it’s also heartfelt and often downright hilarious, and shows off just how canny Malcolm D. Lee’s casting was all those years ago. …

Roger Moore, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

…Sequel is both a romp and a shameless tearjerker… possesses all the strengths and weaknesses of banal, high-gloss mainstream entertainment: It’s boringly, bracingly, gratifyingly conventional. No shame in that game. [2½]

Ann Hornaday, The Washington Post

…Malcolm D. Lee returns to the same well with lesser results in this cluttered, overlong sequel to 1999’s “The Best Man.” …an ace soundtrack full of soulful yuletide tunes.

Andrew Barker, Variety

…Mr. Lee’s film is more traditional than its sexually frank humor might indicate, with faith and charity ultimately given pride of place (right alongside human pettiness). But even if some of the crudeness and the drama feel forced, it’s hard to hate.

Nicolas Rapold, The New York Times

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