The Best Man (1999)
88%RT Audience Score: 93%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins & 11 nominations
With a strong cast and a host of well-defined characters, The Best Man is an intelligent, funny romantic comedy that marks an impressive debut for writer/director Malcolm D. Lee
The Best Man is like a wedding cake that looks amazing on the outside, but when you take a bite, it’s just okay. Sure, the cast is great and the dialogue is witty, but it falls short on delivering a truly memorable experience. It’s like going to a wedding where the food is good, the music is decent, but you don’t leave feeling like you witnessed something truly special. Overall, it’s a fun and entertaining movie, but don’t expect it to change your life.
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Universal Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and sexuality
Year of Release
1999
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:DTS Dolby Digital SDDS
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Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
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Runtime:2h 0m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Oct 22, 1999 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 28, 2006
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Harold Perrineau, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, directed by Malcolm D Lee, written by Malcolm D Lee, Comedy, Drama, $34.1M box office, reviewed by Washington Post, Chicago Reader, Sight & Sound, San Francisco Chronicle, Austin Chronicle, Village Voice, Baltimore Sun, Common Sense Media, Philadelphia City Paper, Film Journal International, R MPAA rating, produced by Bill Carraro, Sam Kitt, Spike Lee, commitment, friendship, love, wedding, novel, best man, ex-flame, African-American cast, imperfection, redemption, becoming the best man that you can be
Worldwide gross: $34,573,780
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $62,060,899
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,239
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,767,819
US/Canada gross: $34,102,780
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $61,215,441
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 979
US/Canada opening weekend: $9,031,660
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,212,082
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 752
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $9,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $16,155,251
Production budget ranking: 1,478
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $8,699,603
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $37,206,046
ROI to date (est.): 150%
ROI ranking: 770
Nia Long – Jordan Armstrong
Morris Chestnut – Lance Sullivan
Harold Perrineau – Julian Murch
Terrence Howard – Quentin
Sanaa Lathan – Robin
Director – Malcolm D. Lee
Producers – Bill Carraro, Sam Kitt, Spike Lee
Writer – Malcolm D. Lee
Director(s)
Malcolm D. Lee
Writer(s)
Malcolm D. Lee
Producer(s)
Bill Carraro, Sam Kitt, Spike Lee
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
8 wins & 11 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (71) | Top Critics (29) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (20)
Ultimately when it’s all said and done, Best Man remains always a groomsman, never a groom: It backs down on its promise to both challenge and entertain, opting instead for the easy laugh–and the pat ending.
November 14, 2013
Teresa Wiltz
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Viewers who mistake the didacticism for stylistic weakness miss much of the point of this nicely toned movie.
April 11, 2012
Lisa Alspector
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
In his earnestness Lee forgets that we need engagingly defective objects of mockery for comedy to work and instead falls back on characters who exhibit no demeaning flaws.
December 2, 2002
Kay Dickinson
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
The glossy ensemble cast is consistently interesting.
June 18, 2002 | Rating: 2.5/4
Bob Graham
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Malcolm D. Lee is clearly a director to watch.
March 21, 2001 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The dialogue is fast, funny, and based in character.
January 1, 2000
Amy Taubin
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Lee comes at the topics refreshingly, taking the African-American male, one of the least explored groups in film, and placing him under a microscope, not for judgment, but for observation.
November 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/4
Milton Kent
Baltimore Sun
Entertaining romantic drama ponders commitment, fidelity.
March 15, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
S. Jhoanna Robledo
Common Sense Media
The wedding weekend entails predictable conflict and resolution, by way of some excellent performances.
May 3, 2012
Cynthia Fuchs
Philadelphia City Paper
A festive few hours that often delights.
December 11, 2006
Doris Toumarkine
Film Journal International
The Best Man is a decent character driven effort and a light night out at the movies.
May 26, 2006 | Rating: 2.5/4
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid
When it comes right down to it, The Best Man isn’t exciting, it isn’t poignant, and the lessons learned in the end aren’t particularly worth learning.
September 18, 2002 | Rating: 2/5
Oz
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
Harper’s autobiographical novel is almost out, his girlfriend Robin desires commitment, and he’s best man at the wedding of Lance, a pro athlete. He goes to New York early (Robin will come for the wedding) to hang out with Lance and other friends, including Jordan, his former almost-lover, now in media and privy to an advance copy of the book. The men discuss women, never facing their own double standard; Jordan wants to try again with Harper, at least for one night; and Harper fears that Lance will read his book and learn that the bride-to-be slept with him once to avenge Lance’s many affairs. Can Harper mature before Lance kills him, Jordan seduces him, and he loses Robin?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
No goofy or funny comments were found in the Fresh Kernels review for The Best Man.
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