The Best Man (1999)
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71% of critics liked it
(69 reviews) -
87% of users liked it
(29,729 ratings)
In this romantic comedy, a writer finds out the hard way about the consequences of walking a fine line between fiction and real life. Harper (Taye Diggs) is an author whose first novel is soon to be published, just as he's been asked to be Best Man at the wedding of his friends Lance (Morris… More In this romantic comedy, a writer finds out the hard way about the consequences of walking a fine line between fiction and real life. Harper (Taye Diggs) is an author whose first novel is soon to be published, just as he's been asked to be Best Man at the wedding of his friends Lance (Morris Chestnut) and Mia (Monica Calhoun). Harper is suffering a worse case of publication-day jitters than most authors, and with good reason: much of his book has been drawn from real life, and he's afraid that his friends and family will spot the sometimes unflattering literary versions of themselves. What's worse, Mia and Harper had a fling years ago, and their affair made it into the book; Lance doesn't know, and Harper would just as soon he didn't find out before the wedding. But one of the bridesmaids, Jordan (Nia Long), has gotten hold of an advance copy of the book. Since Jordan works as a television journalist and devotes her life to digging up dirt on people, Harper is convinced that she'll spill the beans and spoil his friends' big day. The Best Man was the debut film for writer/director Malcolm D. Lee; Spike Lee served as producer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Malcolm D. Lee
- Written By
- Malcolm D. Lee
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Oct 22, 1999 Wide
- Studio
- Universal Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader
Viewers who mistake the didacticism for stylistic weakness miss much of the point of this nicely toned movie.
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, Time Out
So much for the under-powered plot, from tyro writer/director Malcolm D Lee, to which the tiresome unearthing of nice guy Harper's previous dalliances contributes little.
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Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle
The glossy ensemble cast is consistently interesting.
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Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Warm ensemble performance and sophisticated finesse from Lee.
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Ernest Hardy, Film.com
The Best Man is phony on every level.
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Cast
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Taye Diggs
as Harper Stewart
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Nia Long
as Jordan Armstrong
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Morris Chestnut
as Lance
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Terrence Howard
as Quentin
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Harold Perrineau Jr.
as Murch
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Sanaa Lathan
as Robin
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Monica Calhoun
as Mia
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Melissa DeSousa
as Shelby
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Victoria Dillard
as Anita
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Jim Moody
as Uncle Skeeter
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Jarrod Bunch
as Wayne
