THE BEST MAN doesn't try to invent a new concept in comedy, it doesn't attempt to be a 'great movie', it simply entertains on every level as another look at the interpersonal challenges that happen in the heightened atmosphere of a wedding. This time around the cast is African American and for once this is not a Blacksploitational film. Yes there are plenty of in jokes and idiosyncrasies that perhaps not everyone in the audience will 'get', but the story works well and the cast is one of the best collected on film.Four very handsome men - Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, and Terrence Howard - are the male side of wedding party, the very beautiful women being Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Monica Calhoun and Melissa De Sousa - and these beautiful actors immerse themselves in a story with many twists and lessons and appear to be having the time of their lives doing it. Taye Diggs has the lead and continues to show his growth as an actor. But it is the pleasure of seeing the now famous Terrence Howard in one of his many early roles that makes the film truly worthwhile. Not a great movie, but a film of sound production and some of the most appealing actors around! Grady Harp, January 06

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.

"The Best Man" has one of the most visually attractive female casts that I've seen in recent years. Not only are they eye-candy, but also strong female roles played by excellent actresses. Often hard to find is a film that presents both so well. Equally impressive was the bond between the main four male characters who, while different, are all intellectual and successful men. The combination of the two gave me the real feeling of quality characters.As a big fan of Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long, I heavily looked forward to seeing them together in a film, but I was surprised by many other outstanding actors and actresses who really gave the film its boost. Morris Chesnut was excellent as the groom-to-be, Monica Calhoun excellent as the bride-to-be, and Taye Diggs did a very nice job with a softer and more reserved character than many of his other roles.A very interesting script, a quality soundtrack, and well played roles made this film a winner for me. In some ways I was almost disappointed by parts of the ending of the film, but it did not really affect my overall enjoyment. Great movie - 8/10

Here is a film that read like a High School soap opera. I felt myself constantly exclaiming "you're kidding me!" Everything was forced. Even the characters' names seemed to be orchastrated so deliberately that I expected the next few character names to be Scout, Champ, Sport, and Regan. Luckily the film ended before that could happen. You would think that the writer of the script got a cramp in his arm and had to stop before he could resolve the plot. The plot: A critically aclaimed author leaves his girlfriend at home to attend his football star buddies wedding to a woman whom with the author is secretly in love with. The aforementioned novel, however, is a chronical of an afair had betweent the author and the football players current innocent fiancee. The entire film is spent on the characters running around trying to figure who does and does not know the actual connotation of "the book". Let me get this straight: a football player and his buddy beat one another crapless, wrestle, and argue with each other for the effection and honor of a sweet innocent woman when both men previously mentioned are whores. Wait, let me get this straight: the author leaves his girlfriend, tries to hook up with an old friend, maintains a strong love for the fiancee, and proposes to his girlfriend at the films end. There really needs to be a sequal to show how al lof these people are in rehab or on Jerry Springer or maybe seeing some type of counselor. I know I'm seeking professional help after the viewing of this film. Watch it. I shouldn't have to suffer alone.