“The Best Man Holiday”
Rated R. At AMC Loews Boston Common, Regal Fenway Stadium and suburban theaters.
Grade: B
In the upscale kingdom of “The Best Man Holiday,” the top spot on the food chain is inhabited by the National Football League superstar, who lives in baronial splendor, makes more money than most people can dream of and has a moral character equal to his athletic prowess. Yes, this sequel to the 1999 trendsetting film “The Best Man” (which accounts for the awkward title) exists in some Darwinian cloud cuckoo land. Once again written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee (“Soul Men”), this undeniably entertaining soap opera reunites acclaimed author Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), who is now married to Robin (Sanaa Lathan) and expecting their first child on New Year’s Eve; superstar New York Giants running back Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut), his beautiful, beloved wife Mia (Monica Calhoun) and their children; and academy headmaster Julian (Harold Perrineau), who has lost his school’s top donor because of the checkered past of his ex-stripper wife Candace (Regina Hall).
Also reuniting for a long Christmas weekend in Lance’s Downton Abbey-sized New Jersey mansion are randy singleton Quentin (Terrence Howard), Mia’s brother; powerful Manhattan show biz rep Jordan (Nia Long), whose new boyfriend Brian (Eddie Cibrian) is white; and sexpot Shelby (Melissa De Sousa), who is now the top diva on a trashy “Housewives of” reality TV show.
Lance has not forgiven Harper for cheating with Mia while she and Lance were engaged. But a devout Christian, Lance is willing to put it behind him (or is he?). Secretly facing financial ruin, Harper is planning to pitch writing Lance’s bio to his former best friend. Quentin, who gives Anthony Weiner a run for his money in the “sexting” department, asks newcomer Brian if this is his “first safari,” and refers to him as “Robin Thicke” in one funny scene. Olivia Pope also gets a shout-out. Quentin is once again the troublemaker, stirring the pot, while Mia, who harbors a troubling secret, and Lance have planned such activities as a talent show and storytelling.
Storytelling, indeed. Lee, a graduate of Georgetown University and cousin of Spike Lee, has reunited what he calls his “Black Pack,” and the pack does not let him down.
This is not surprising since Lee’s original film helped to launch several careers, Diggs’ and Howard’s included. What “The Best Man Holiday” lacks in psychological realism it makes up for in the heartfelt, comic performances of its cast. Howard, who ought to be a much bigger star, has most of the best lines, and as the trash-tastic Shelby, De Sousa (“Second Time Around”) is a pistol.
Like “The Big Chill,” the granddaddy of all such college-friends-reunion “dramedies,” “The Best Man Holiday” is a feel-good celebration of family values and friendship, combined with a potential best-selling R&B soundtrack, a hilarious catfight and enough sexual indiscretions to go around. I think we haven’t seen the last of this Black Pack. “Best Man Midlife Crisis,” anyone?
(“The Best Man Holiday” contains profanity, lewd language, brief nudity and sexually suggestive scenes.)
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