The Best Man Holiday: A Clear Portrayal of Black Excellence

“Black don’t crack.” – This adage is considered the holy grail of Black Hollywood descriptions. While these words are often used to dub the outward aesthetics of an individual(s), such limitations are not subject to the cast of The Best Man Holiday, as each character displays awe-inspiring growth both physically and theatrically, ultimately resulting in the film indefinitely promising to be one of the Holiday’s box office smashes.

Boasting the same director, Malcolm D. Lee, and iconic cast as the 1999-released original film, The Best Man Holiday is an ideal representation of seamless acting, propelled by relatable story lines and timeless themes. In addition to highlighting all of the deeply rooted plotting techniques and conflicts, the film also cleverly catches the audience up on lost times, briefly explaining what each character has been up to since the infamous hustle scene at Lance and Mia’s wedding.

Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs) is a best-selling author; Robin Stewart (Sanaa Lathan) is a well established chef; Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long) goes from segment producer to lead producer at a major network; Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut) is a professional veteran NFL player; Mia Sullivan (Monica Calhoun) is a devoted housewife; Julian Murch (Harold Perrineau) is a respected school teacher; Candace “Candy” Murch (Regina Hall), goes from an exotic dancer to a respected educator in her own right; Quentin Spivey (Terrence Howard) is still a foul-mouthed, outspoken bachelor; and Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) is the breakout star of a fictitious version of the “Real Housewives” franchise.

With these timely role progressions, one would think that the cast would appear somewhat disconnected given their time apart. However, that proved to be farthest from the truth, as the roles were so well executed that one almost felt as if one was eavesdropping on the lives of real individuals. Contributing to the innate ease of acting performed in this film, Taye Diggs exclusively told The Maroon Tiger his secret recipe to a brilliant performance.

“I find it effortless because I’m a great actor,” Diggs jokingly said. “But seriously, I attribute it to our personal relationships.”

Actress Sanaa Lathan, who portrays Diggs’ pregnant wife in the film, agrees with his notion, citing their organic chemistry as the main reason.

“It’s all about the chemistry we have as a cast,” she said. “The chemistry we had from the first movie, you can’t recreate it or fake it. That energy comes across in the movie authentically.”

Aside from the film’s inherent energy, the natural, yet cleverly calculated, display of these characters as individually successful members of the African-American community stands as a hefty contributor to the movie’s overall magnificence. Multiple facets of professionalism are explored through the characters’ respective roles. From Jordan Armstrong breaking the glass ceiling in becoming a reputable network producer, to Harper Stewart’s vast success as a best-selling author, shining a positive light on the often frowned upon vocation of the “starving artist,” this film shows a new outlook on the Black experience as illustrated through the silver screen.

Touching on this subject of artistic freedom, Nia Long supported the notion, and further gave insight on why the Best Man brand has remained a staple for Black culture for more than a decade.

“This business is difficult. You have to take your time and be motivated by what influences you artistically,” she told The Maroon Tiger. “Therefore, you will be able to sustain throughout the years instead of being gone in five years or so.”

During a time where Black contemporary films seems to be what’s “in at the moment,” The Best Man Holiday stands in solidarity as one of the few – non slavery-themed films – that authentically promotes the Black American dream. And ultimately, the beauty of it remains that after experiencing the roller coaster of emotions that this film exudes, that dream can be whatever you hope for it to be.