The Best Man Holiday (2013)

When college friends reunite after 15 years over the Christmas holidays, they discover just how easy it is for long-forgotten rivalries and romances to be reignited.

Director:

Malcolm D. Lee

Writers:

Malcolm D. Lee, Malcolm D. Lee (characters)

Stars:

Monica Calhoun, Morris Chestnut, Melissa De Sousa

3 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Monica Calhoun	...	Mia
Morris Chestnut	...	Lance
Melissa De Sousa	...	Shelby
Taye Diggs	...	Harper
Regina Hall	...	Candace
Terrence Howard	...	Quentin
Sanaa Lathan	...	Robyn
Nia Long	...	Jordan
Harold Perrineau	...	Julian
Eddie Cibrian	...	Brian
Riele Downs	...	Faith
Richie Lawrence	...	August
Millie Davis	...	Hope
Linden Liles-McCurdy	...	L.J.
Isis Moore	...	Kennedy

Storyline

Mia Sullivan (Monica Calhoun), wife of Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut), has written letters requesting that the old gang should join them for Christmas: Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs) and his almost-nine-month-pregnant wife Robyn (Sanaa Lathan), Julian "Murch" Murchison (Harold Perrineau) and wife Candace Sparks (Regina Hall), her best friend Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long) and boyfriend Brian McDonald (Eddie Cibrian), Quentin "Q" Spivey (Terrence Howard), and Shelby Taylor (Melissa De Sousa). All the friends arrive at the house, the first time they've come together in 14 years, and the celebration begins. At dinner, the old friends catch up while tensions grow between Shelby and Candace. Years after his debut novel, Harper is struggling with writer's block, financial difficulties, and pressure from his publisher to come up with newer and better material for his next book. He has also been recently relieved of his faculty position at New York University, further complicating the couple's ...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | written by director | african american | african american protagonist | ultrasound | 

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Taglines:

Times change. Friendship doesn't.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, sexual content and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Twitter

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Best Man 2

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Toronto Studios, Port Lands, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$17,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$30,107,555, 17 November 2013

Gross USA:

$70,525,195

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$72,835,710

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Blackmaled Productions, Sean Daniel Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

123 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Datasat Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A third film titled the Best Man Wedding was announced in 2014 and set to be release in 2016 but was put on hold since then.

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Goofs

When Lance is exiting the stadium, behind Harper, Quentin, and Julian the Buffalo Bills logo can be seen in the background. The football scenes were shot at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

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Quotes

Harper: Brian McDaniels... I like to ski in Vermont. I like to date chocolate girls.
Jordan: Shut up, Harper.

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Connections

Referenced in Jimmy Kimmel Live!: John Goodman/Regina Hall/NCT 127 (2018)

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Soundtracks

The Christmas Song
Written by Mel Tormé, Robert Wells
Performed by Nat 'King' Cole (as Nat King Cole)
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises
Nat King Cole ® is a registered trademark of King Cole Partners, L.P.

User Reviews

Terrence Howard is my favorite actor in the thing.

'THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Sequel to the 1999 ensemble buddy film 'THE BEST MAN' reuniting the friend group, 14 years later, for the holidays. Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Regina Hall, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun and Melissa De Sousa all reprise their roles from the original film. Malcolm D. Lee once again wrote and directed the movie. It's funny in places and sentimental enough for a Christmas film; about what most viewers will expect I think.

The movie finds Lance and Mia Sullivan (Chestnut and Calhoun) having a weekend Christmas party that they invite all their old friends to. Lance is retiring this year, as a star running back for the New York Giants, and Mia has some tragic news she's kept secret from the rest of the friend group. Lance hasn't been on speaking terms with his old best friend, Harper Stewart (Diggs), since the events of the original movie. Harper is now expecting a child with his nine-month pregnant wife, Robin (Lathan). Making things hard for them is the fact that Harper recently lost his teaching job, which he hasn't told Robin about, and hasn't written a hit book in years. At the advice of his agent (John Michael Higgins) he's thinking of doing an unauthorized biography on Lance. He'll of course have to smooth things over with him first in order to do so. Each of the other friends has their own drama and troubled relationships.

I never saw the original 1999 hit so I can't honestly say how this sequel lives up to it but I'm guessing fans of the original film would be pleased. It seems like your average old 'friends reunion movie'. Perhaps it's a tad too melodramatic (in places) but there are enough decent laughs to keep it entertaining. My favorite performance is by Terrence Howard, who undoubtedly has the most comedic role, but he is also my favorite actor in the thing. I don't usually go for these types of films but I definitely wasn't bored (for it's 2 hour-plus running time) and I'm pretty sure fans of these flicks will be more than pleased.

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