THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY – The Review

Much like the shopping malls and department stores, Hollywood often jumps the gun on trotting out their winter holiday products. We’ve not cooked the Thanksgiving turkey (or fully digested FREE BIRDS), but the first Christmas flick arrives at the multiplexes this weekend. So will it be a perennial classic like A CHRISTMAS STORY or WHITE CHRISTMAS or a lump of coal like CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS?  Well, it does have something in common with one of the newer classics, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION. It’s a sequel (well NLCV was the third visit with the Grisswalds) too. In 1999 a group of old friends got together for a big wedding in the appropriately titled THE BEST MAN. And now they re-unite, not for another stroll down the aisle, but to exchange gifts (and secrets) in THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY. So, who’s been naughty and who’s been nice?

The events of the previous film are re-capped over the opening title credits along with some quick graphics updating the principals over the last 14 years. The autobiographical novel Harper (Taye Diggs) wrote  in the first film was a best seller, but he’s not had a great follow-up. However, he and his wife Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) are eagerly awaiting their first child (which, unknown to her, will impact their mounting debt). But Harper’s book agent suggests that he collaborate with his old bud Lance (Morris Chestnut) for a bio highlighting his soon-to-end record-breaking career with the New York Jets. Harper’s old flame Jordan (Nia Long) is an ambitious career-focused exec at MSNBC who is getting serious with new beau Brian (Eddie Cibrian). Quentin (Terrence Howard) is a single successful marketing consultant who’s still a hard-partying wild man. After straight-laced academian Julian (Harold Perrineau) has started a family with Candace (Regina Hall), he’s stunned to discover an old home video online of her stripping (and more) at a frat party. Meanwhile Julian’s old fling Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) has become a big reality TV show diva. When Lance’s wife Mia (Monica Calhoun) invites the group to their sprawling mansion for the holidays, the old friends head to New Jersey for a few days of fun, food, old feuds, revealed secrets, and new beginnings.

Although many years have passed since the original outing the cast has an easy rapport and a real sense of comfort much like the cast of a long running TV series. Unfortunately the film does most resemble a basic cable TV (or premium series because of the salty language) mini-series or a feature cobbled together from several episodes. And, like a sitcom, much of the time, the actors seem to be overemoting for a “live studio audience” along with the director’s constant need for cut-aways and close-ups to give the comedy a “frenzied” tone. The exception may be Howard who gives “Q” a low-key rascally charm. He’s not going to work up a sweat in order to get a laugh. Calhoun and Chestnut’s characters are somewhat muted (he does get a chance to unleash his anger late in the film), but this keys into a very serious subplot. Speaking of plots, the film doesn’t shy away from the religious roots of the holiday (it’s not just about Santa and gifts), but it’s a clunky fit with the raunchy sex talk, cat-fighting, toking, and fast and furious “F-bombs”. The somber last act forces some of the more cartoonish characters to almost do a 360 degree turn as the script sledge-hammers us over the head with its message. Still there’s a bitterly funny cameo with Chris Guest film vet John Michael Higgins as Harper’s manipulative literary agent and some nice pop and R and B versions of holiday favorites. So for fans of the original and its stars, THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY will be as comforting as a warm sprinkled cookie with an egg nog chaser. As for the rest of us, we’ll count down the days till Clarence dives in after George Bailey.

2 Out of 5