Stoutor It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

Lollivan It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Siflutter It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Calum Hutton It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Realness97 I loved the feel-good factor this movie extolled. I love the blend of comedic situations with the 'yes it happens..' drama. I give special props to the role of Perrineau, for his character mirrors my innermost fears which are smoke-screened by spineless bravado. I want a drop dead gorgeous lady in my life to infinity, and would give all I have to get her! I'm so impressed with Terence Howard's successes since this release, and in hindsight admit, he'd be my chosen alter-ego.My final thought is for Sanaa; Reality would never demean your personal qualities to 'hoping' you make the cut from any man's proverbial wish- list, so your in-character presenting was very very good. Well Done Mr Producer. You nailed it. Now get the Corp big wigs to release this worldwide.

zardoz-13 Classy romantic comedies about African-Americans that neither deal drugs nor go on booty calls were unusual fare for Hollywood in the pre-Tyler Perry era. "Waiting to Exhale" (1995) charted this change of attitude in the depiction of blacks that caught on in later movies like "Soul Food," "Eve's Bayou," "Love Jones," and "The Wood." Director Malcolm D. Lee's witty, sophisticated, but dramatically well-rounded yarn "The Best Man" is the latest to capitalize on this trend. Despite some profanity and raunchy sexual allusions, "The Best Man" endorses marriage, fidelity and religious values. Nobody gets shot, stabbed, or coked up the nose. The characters qualify as intelligent, positive, upscale role models and stereotypes appear conspicuously absent in this seriocomic account of a weekend college reunion before a classmate's wedding.Happily, "The Best Man" shuns racism either as a political issue or as a narrative theme. Actually, this lighthearted but occasionally down to earth comedy of errors looks and sounds like something Oscar Wilde or George Bernard Shaw might have penned. The point is that "The Best Man" emerges as a polished mainstream comedy where the characters are first and foremost people with all of the foibles and frailties of mankind. A strong ensemble cast headed by charismatic Taye Diggs, who won over audiences in "When Stella Got Her Groove Back," distinguishes writer Lee's accomplished directorial debut. Unlike his famous, more often controversial brother Spike Lee, Malcolm sticks to the story and avoids tangents.Chicago author Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs of "Go") has just written his first novel. Appropriately entitled 'Unfinished Business,' Stewart's about to be published story has been picked up by Oprah Winfrey's book club. Life couldn't be better for the novice novelist. The froth of Harper's success fizzles when he learns that his ex-college flame, BET-TV producer Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long of "Friday") has circulated an advance copy of his semi-autobiographical effort among his close chums. When Harper arrives in New York City for the weekend festivities surrounding the impending marriage of football star Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut of "Half Past Dead") and Mia Morgan (Monica Calhoun of "Love & Basketball"), he finds himself up to his ears in hot water.Naturally, Harper's friends have perused his novel. They bicker about who he used as models for his fictional characters. Things come to a boil when Lance suspects the worst. He believes that his sweetheart Mia may have bedded down with Harper, the guy he chose to serve as his best man. Reluctantly, Harper confesses, and the once philandering football star blackens his eye at their stag party and then threatens to throw him off the balcony. Lance calls off the wedding without warning Mia and then storms out of the party. Harper realizes grimly that he must patch things up. The next day everybody shows up at the church in their finest garb, but poor Mia has no idea why Lance is tardy."The Best Man" is the equivalent of Terry McMillan for guys. They form a closely-knit group of friends who have achieved success of their own right after college. Predictably, their reunion sparks old rivalries and bitter jealousies. Harper finds himself in trouble long before he arrives in the Big Apple to celebrate with his friends. Just as his publishing career is gaining momentum, Harper's girlfriend goads him about a commitment that he balks at giving. Quentin (Terrence Howard of "Iron Man") is a cynical career drifter who cannot find a woman for himself but who doles out advice to Julian Murch (Harold Perrineau, Jr., of "The Matrix Reloaded") about how to deal with his prima donna girlfriend Shelby (Melissa De Sousa of "Biker Boyz"). Finally, Lance has decided to settle down now that he has inked a $5-million contract to play for the New York Giants."The Best Man" towers as a four-star romantic comedy in the tradition of "The Big Chill" with characters who never get short-changed and an ending that is agreeably believable.

Addicted_to_the_Groove Handsomely produced but ultimately shallow movie that is part of a fast-burgeoning genre: the "buppieploitation" film. Get a handful of the most insanely gorgeous Black actors, set the movie in a popular metropolitan city, add a trendy r&b soundtrack, get plenty of promotion on BET and Vibe magazine, and--voila!--you have a box office hit in your hands. These movies may smartly dodge ghetto stereotypes, but they resort to the same chick flick chiches that you'd find in a, say, Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan film. Taye Diggs is Harper Stewart, a struggling actor who flies to New York to be the best man of his college buddy's wedding and just completed a novel called "Unfinished Business." The book, as well as Harper's shady past, causes all sorts of friction between his friends and his love interest Jordan, played by Nia Long. I'll be a good sport and I won't risk revealing any spoilers, but even if I did, it wouldn't be a big deal. Not only is the plot predictable, but the characters do not possess not an ounce of realness or believability. I don't know what kind of book deal Harper Stewart has, but it must be a lucrative one considering his GQ wardrobe. Nia Long isn't required to do anything more than look pretty and act feisty, while Morris Chestnut remains a promising actor trapped, yet again, in a poorly written role. The only character I liked was Shelby (Melissa De Sousa). The script makes her look like a total drama queen, but if I were always in the company of such shallow status-conscious people like Harper and Jordan, I, too, would be agitated as Shelby was. Don't get me wrong; "The Best Man" is a well-produced movie. But the gloss is there to trick you into thinking that the film is way better than it actually is. The discerning viewer will notice the con job right away.

nacho2 This film stinks. I know there are lot of people giving it praise because it portrays middle-class black people. Well hey, 'Eyes Wide Shut' portrayed the lives of middle-class white people and it was still terrible! I think people need to get some perspective, imagine if everyone in this film was white instead of black, would you still think it was a good film? Would there be anything worthwhile about it at all?It's junk. The resolutions are so pat and ridiculous. I would call this film average instead of terrible if it hadn't been for the 'hooker with the heart of gold' storyline. Bleeugh! Thank god that the ambitious black woman got put back in her place eh? This film is a step forward alright (!). Watch 'The Wood' instead, touching and genuinely funny.