Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

The Best Man Holiday Blu-ray Movie Review

Old Friends

Reviewed by Michael Reuben February 4, 2014

Warning: The following review assumes familiarity with the The Best Man (1999), to which this film is a sequel. If you're not familiar with The Best Man, spoilers follow.

Even if writer/director Malcolm D. Lee hadn't been thinking of a sequel to his surprise 1999 hit The Best Man (or "Best 1"), the parade of requests from the film's fans would have inspired him. As Lee honed his craft on other comedies during the first decade of the new millennium, some successful, some not, his thoughts kept turning to the group of friends he'd based on his own circle, inspired by films like The Big Chill. What would their futures hold?

By the time Lee was ready to pitch his idea to the nine cast members whose participation was essential to a successful followup, a dozen years had passed and all of their careers had progressed. As the cast relates in the Blu-ray extras, the very experience of reuniting with Lee to hear the pitch provided them with a preview of what the film could be. All the old chemistry was still there. With the cast on board, Lee began writing. In classic sequel mode, he tried to recreate everything the audience loved from the first film, but bigger, grander and, perhaps most importantly, older. After fifteen years of life experience, the characters from The Best Man could no longer be young people just out of college and starting their careers (or, in the case of Terence Howard's "Q", doing everything to avoid a career). These had to be people with accomplishments, achievements and, life being what it is, their fair share of disappointments, reversals and loss. Above all, though, they would still be friends.

The Best Man Holiday (or "Best 2") opened on November 13, 2013, and it was so eagerly anticipated that it beat out Thor: The Dark World for the day's top box office. By the end of the weekend, it had collected twice what analysts projected and was well on its way to a tidy profit. Universal quickly ordered up a third installment, for which Lee had already planted the hook at the end of the film.

The occasion that reunites the gang is a gala Christmas celebration at the home of Lance and Mia Sullivan (Morris Chestnut and Monica Calhoun), the couple whose wedding was the defining event of Best 1. Lance has remained the NFL star that everyone expected him to be. His endorsements are everywhere, and he is on the verge of breaking the all-time rushing record before he retires. The Sullivans and their four children live in a Westchester County mansion the size of which makes their newly acquired house in Best 1 look like a cottage. As often happens when people become absorbed by family and careers, the old group hasn't seen much of each other in the last fifteen years, and Mia is determined to gather them again. That might seem like a tall order, but anyone who remembers Best 1 knows that Mia is the most beloved and respected member of the clan. She's impossible to turn down.

The most reluctant attendees are Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), Lance's best man fifteen years ago, and his wife Robin (Sanaa Lathan), whose engagement was the surprise ending of Best 1. Harper's friendship with Lance has never fully recovered from the eleventh-hour revelation that the best man and the bride slept together in college. And Robin is still jealous of Mia's best friend, Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long), the successful TV producer at MSNBC whom her husband, Harper, idolized back then and with whom he still enjoys too close a rapport for Robin's comfort. Robin's jealousy is accentuated by the fact that Jordan, who is still single, always looks fabulous, whereas Robin is nine months' pregnant, after many false starts and setbacks. Next to Jordan, she feels like a beached whale. Story note: A pregnant woman near her due date is like the proverbial gun in the first act that must go off in the third; her labor is guaranteed to commence at the most inconvenient but dramatically useful point in the film.

The Murches, Julian and Candace (Harold Perrineau and Regina King), have turned their shared passion for education into a successful charter school, but Julian arrives under a dark cloud, because the school's chief donor has just withdrawn his support. Someone has sent him a video of Candace in her former occupation as a stripper, which is how she and Julian met in Best 1, when she appeared at the bachelor party. Unfortunately, the video also shows "Candy" engaged in something more than stripping. Since Julian still can't keep a secret, it won't be long before he blurts out something inappropriate. Besides, video clips have a way of getting around, much like the advance copy of Harper's first novel in Best 1.

The non-couple in attendance are Quentin Spivey (Terence Howard) and Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), who woke up hung over in bed together the morning after the wedding in Best 1, shrieking in mutual horror. After Julian Murch dumped Shelby on the steps of the church the day after meeting Candace, she went on to a successful career so ripely suited to her man-eating talents that it always provokes one of the film's biggest laughs during the credit sequence that brings us up to date on each character. The only man who ever escaped Shelby's clutches was Julian, and it's clear that Shelby has never gotten over it. Claws emerge whenever she and Candace Murch are in the same room, and a cat fight is inevitable.

Quentin, still the eternal playboy, has finally found himself the perfect career, and while it isn't that of a pimp, the clothing is almost as flashy. (On the commentary track, Lee relates that he and Howard argued over the actor's wardrobe choices.) Howard's "Q" remains the cut-up of the group, who can always be counted on for a wisecrack or a well-timed look to puncture a serious moment. The difference between the old "Q" and today, however, is that the current version is successful. He's lost the mean-spirited edge that made him such a dangerous friend in Best 1. During the course of Best 2, he reveals a side we've never seen before.

A new face is Jordan's current boyfriend, Brian (Eddie Cibrian), who is carefully circling the battlements of the commitment-phobic career woman. He also happens to be white. All of Jordan's old friends give him a thorough inspection, but Brian, despite the preppie looks and the patrician heritage, never behaves like a fish out of water. He eases right into this group of thirty-something professionals like one of the gang. If only Jordan would take his interest seriously.

As in Best 1, Lee keeps the action moving at a steady clip, constantly shifting between the comedic and the dramatic and frequently mixing the two. In place of the standard wedding events to structure the plot, the film uses a detailed itinerary of holiday entertainment that Mia, ever the perfect hostess, has planned for her guests. A high point for the ladies is an MTV-ready "air band" performance of New Edition's "Can You Stand the Rain" by Lance, Harper, Julian and Q (and, yes, panties are thrown). Best 1 took an unexpectedly dark turn near the end, as Lance spoke his wedding vows in agony, knocked back by the karmic boomerang of his serial philandering. The sequel is even more frank about the dirty tricks that life can play as we age and discover that every day is a new chance to have the rug pulled out from under us. For all that can go wrong, though, Lee remains an optimist who believes in the power of love and friendship. They may not be able to fix everything, but they are the closest we get to knowing "God's plan", of which Lance continues to speak with fervent conviction, even at the darkest moments.

The Best Man Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Director Lee's commentary makes it clear that he left the look of The Best Man Holiday in the capable hands of cinematographer Greg Gardiner (Men in Black II), except for his stipulation that it must be in "anamorphic" (i.e., 2.39:1) aspect ratio, as compared to the first film's 1.85:1. According to IMDb, the film was shot on the Arri Alexa, but even if that is incorrect, the final result after post-production on a digital intermediate has produced a splendid Blu-ray image.

Sharpness, clarity and detail are exemplary throughout, and because so much of the action takes place inside a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous-type mansion that has been decked out for the holidays, there is plenty to see. Costumes, skin textures and decor are all finely visible, including the adorable outfits of the precious moppets cast to play the four Sullivan children, the Murch twins and Shelby's precocious daughter. The stadium sequences for Lance Sullivan's big game reflect a similar level of precise detail, as do various scenes preceding the gathering at the Sullivans', where we see Jordan at work and Harper meeting with his publisher (John Michael Higgins). Black levels and contrast are perfectly set, and the color palette favors bright, holiday-themed hues that pop off the screen.

The average bitrate of 31.99 Mbps seems to be Universal's "sweet spot" for compression, and it's certainly up to any challenges.

The Best Man Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

As in Best 1, music and dialogue are the focus of the DTS-HD MA 5.1 track, although a few scenes have somewhat more elaborate effects, including the Shelby/Candace cat fight and a mock slugfest between Julian and Q in the backseat of an SUV. The film spawned a successful album composed of a mix of new songs and covers of traditional Christmas songs, and the film's soundtrack has even more, including Ray Charles's cover of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and Nat King Cole's classic rendition of "The Christmas Song" by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. As a nod to Best 1, Stevie Wonder's "As" is reprised as a duet performed by Marsha Ambrosius and Anthony Hamilton. All of these songs play with a warm, rich tonality and wide dynamic range, as does the underscoring by Stanley Clarke.

The Best Man Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Blu-ray exclusives are marked with an asterisk.

• Commentary with Writer/Director/Producer Malcolm D. Lee: Lee's commentary is a lively account of the film's production, including alternate takes, abandoned story elements and deleted scenes beyond those included in the extras. Lee clearly adores his cast and repeatedly points out plot points and ad libs that he incorporated into the finished product. He also discusses the film's lengthy gestation and the lessons he learned about comedy in the interim.



• Gag Reel (1080p; 2.40:1; 4:53): A collection of blown lines, crack-ups, muggings and silliness.



• Holiday Special: The Making of The Best Man Holiday (1080p; 1.78:1; 12:14): The best part of this EPK is the cast's recollections of the dinner at which they gathered with Lee twelve years after the first film to hear him pitch the sequel. Pictures of the event are included. Newcomer Eddie Cibrian describes the experience of being the new guy.



• *Alternate Ending (w/Optional Commentary with Malcolm D. Lee) (1080p; 2.40:1; 1:39): This is the film's original ending, and Lee provides a better explanation in the main commentary why the reshoot was essential.



• *Deleted and Extended Scenes (w/Optional Commentary with Malcolm D. Lee) (1080p; 2.40:1; 25:12): A "play all" function is included.
• Good Luck with Stan
• The Boys Are Too Busy to Take Harper's Call
• Shelby Arrives
• Harper Approves of Brian
• The Girls Had a Great Evening
• Harper and Jordan Return from Running
• Shelby Gets on Candace's Nerves
• The Presents Have Arrived
• More Sugar
• Lance Returns from Practice
• Harper and Jordan Are Just Friends
• Take It to the Room
• Candace Leaves
• Shelby Gives an Unexpected Christmas Present
• Jordan Offers to Help Robyn
• Lance and Harper Talk It Out
• Lance Asks Harper to Give a Speech



• *Smack Talk: Filming the Girl Fight Scene (1080p; 1.78:1; 4:09): Filming the epic battle between Candace and Shelby that has been brewing for fifteen years. Stunt doubles were used for some shots, but actresses Regina Hall and Melissa De Sousa did much of their own action.



• Additional Trailers: At startup the disc plays trailers for About Time, Riddick, Dallas Buyers Club and Rush, which can be skipped with the chapter forward button and are not otherwise available once the disc loads.

The Best Man Holiday Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's easy to decide whether you'll like The Best Man Holiday. If you liked Best 1, the sequel is an appropriate and engaging continuation of its multiple stories. If you haven't seen Best 1, starting with Best 2 is almost certainly a mistake, because so much of its emotional undertow (and comic setup) depends on the viewer's knowledge of these characters' long history together. Unlike Best 1, which received an indifferent video presentation and minimal extras, Universal has come through with an exemplary image and an array of interesting supplements. Now the company needs to get to work on the remastered special edition that will no doubt accompany the release of the upcoming third film. Meanwhile, for fans of the series, The Best Man Holiday is highly recommended.