Best Man: Amazon Prime's Best-Kept Secret?

The Best Man is a 1999 comedy-drama film starring Taye Diggs, Nia Long, and Morris Chestnut. The film follows a writer (Diggs) who meets an old flame (Long) at his friend's (Chestnut) wedding. The film is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime, with the sequel, The Best Man Holiday, also available.

The Best Man Holiday

The film follows a group of college friends who reunite after 15 years apart during the Christmas holidays. The friends discover that their old rivalries and romances quickly resurface. One of the friends, Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), is facing writer's block, financial difficulties, and fertility treatments for his pregnant wife Robyn (Sanaa Lathan). Harper's agent suggests he write a biography of his former best friend and New York Giants superstar Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut). Harper agrees, but in secret, as Lance keeps him at a distance. Lance's wife Mia (Monica Calhoun) has invited Harper, Robyn, and the rest of their friends for Christmas. As the group catches up, old tensions come to the surface, and Harper tries to mend his friendship with Lance while discreetly gathering research for the biography.

The film received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast, Lee's direction, and the dramatic elements. It was also a commercial success, grossing $72.8 million worldwide on a production budget of $17 million. The Best Man Holiday received multiple accolades and nominations, including four nominations at the 45th NAACP Image Awards.

Nia Long and Taye Diggs star

The 1999 film "The Best Man" stars Nia Long and Taye Diggs. The movie is about a writer, played by Diggs, who meets an old flame, played by Long, at his friend's wedding. The film is available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.

Long and Diggs reprised their roles in the 2013 sequel "The Best Man Holiday." The film follows college friends who gather for a holiday reunion and find that long-simmering rivalries, romances, and secrets are revealed. "The Best Man Holiday" is also available to rent or buy on Amazon Prime.

In an interview, Long said that she believed fans of the franchise would be excited to see where the characters are and where they are going. She also shared that she was looking forward to working with the cast again and that she was excited to have everyone on board for the final chapter.

In the first film, Long's character, Jordan, slapped Diggs' character, Harper, and the scene was improvised. In a 2018 episode of "Unsung Hollywood," Diggs said that he would never work with Long again because of the slap. However, Long said that she didn't think the slap was a big deal and that Diggs didn't move his head, so he didn't actually feel the impact.

College reunion

The movie "The Best Man Holiday" is about a group of college friends who gather for a holiday reunion and discover that old rivalries, romances, and secrets are revealed. Here are some ideas for a college reunion inspired by the movie:

Venue Ideas:

• Your old college campus: Rent out the school gymnasium or a multi-purpose room for the reunion. Alternatively, you could host it outdoors on the football field or the quad.
• Golf course: Alumni can spend the day golfing and then enjoy an evening of catered meals and dancing in the clubhouse.
• Ballroom or banquet hall: These venues are popular for more formal reunions. Many hotels offer catering services and room blocks for out-of-town guests.
• Museum: If your graduating class shares a passion for science, art, or natural history, a museum can be a unique venue for your reunion. Some museums offer tours or special activities for groups.
• Local park: For a more casual and family-friendly reunion, a local park can be a great option. Set up grills for a barbecue or make it a potluck.

Theme Ideas:

• Graduation year: Create a playlist or hire a tribute band to play popular songs from your graduation year. Encourage guests to dress in styles from that era.
• Homecoming dance: Set up a red carpet and a backdrop for guests to take pictures. Decorate with balloon arches in your school colors. Hang up old pictures from past school dances.
• Luau party: Ask guests to wear island-style attire and decorate with a tropical theme. Play Hawaiian music, set up tiki bars, and string lights for ambiance. If you're near a beach, you can even end the night with a bonfire and piña coladas.
• Diamonds and denim: Also known as "dressy casual," this theme allows guests to pair denim with a touch of sparkle. Decorate with gold and silver accents and personalize party supplies with your school name and graduating year.
• Costume party: Encourage guests to come dressed in their favorite costumes. Provide party wigs and plastic trophies for a costume contest.

Food and Drink Ideas:

• School color cocktails: Serve drinks in your school colors to boost alumni pride.
• Coffee bar: Offer a variety of coffee drinks to keep the party going into the night. Don't forget to include decaf options!
• Hors d'oeuvres or finger foods: Offer a variety of elegant or casual appetizers for guests to enjoy.
• Buffet or plated dinners: Provide a meal for your guests, especially if your reunion is more formal. Consider catering from the venue or having a potluck dinner.
• Bite-size desserts: Offer a variety of miniature desserts like macarons or cupcake bites so guests can indulge without interrupting their mingling.

Activity Ideas:

• Icebreaker questions: Prepare fun conversation starters to get guests talking about more than just their jobs or how many kids they have.
• Catch-up slideshow: Create a modern yearbook by collecting photos and updates from your classmates. Put together a slideshow to play in the background during the reunion.
• Escape room or murder mystery game: Get everyone working together to solve puzzles and clues.
• Dance contest: Bring back popular songs and dance moves from your school days and have a contest to see who still has the best moves.
• Classmate memorial: If your class has lost any members, honor their memory with a memorial wall, a moment of silence, or a donation in their name.

Old flames

In the film "The Best Man", a writer (Taye Diggs) meets an old flame (Nia Long) at his friend's (Morris Chestnut) wedding. The old flames, or former lovers, in this case, are the characters portrayed by Diggs and Long.

The plot of the film revolves around the writer meeting his old flame and the events that unfold as a result. While the film does not provide specific details about the old flame, it is implied that she is someone from the writer's past who he had a romantic relationship with. The film explores the dynamics between the old flame and the writer, including any unresolved feelings or tensions that may exist between them.

In terms of the character development and the impact of the old flame on the plot, it is important to consider the following:

• The old flame's appearance at the wedding creates a sense of tension or conflict. This could be due to unresolved issues between them or the presence of other romantic interests at the wedding.
• The old flame may have a significant impact on the writer's current relationship or marriage. This could lead to a re-evaluation of their feelings and decisions made in the past.
• The old flame could bring back memories or trigger emotions that the writer had buried or suppressed. This could lead to a journey of self-discovery or a re-evaluation of their life choices.
• The dynamics between the old flame and the friend (Chestnut) also play a crucial role in the film. It adds a layer of complexity to the relationships and may create a sense of competition or loyalty conflicts for the writer.

Overall, the old flame in "The Best Man" serves as a pivotal element that drives the plot and creates opportunities for character development and exploration of complex emotions.

Friend's wedding

If you're looking for a movie about a friend's wedding on Amazon Prime, there are two films that may fit the bill:

My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

In this romantic comedy, a scheming ex-girlfriend attends a magnificent wedding, determined to prevent it and win back the groom. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, and Cameron Diaz. It's rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes.

My Best Friend's Wedding (2019)

This version of "My Best Friend's Wedding" is a comedy-drama with a similar premise. When a woman's long-time friend reveals he's engaged, she realizes she loves him herself and sets out to get him, with only days before the wedding. However, this movie is currently unavailable to watch in certain locations. It stars Ana Serradilla, Carlos Ferro, and Natasha Dupeyrón. It's rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Alternatively, if you're interested in a movie about a best man, there's "The Best Man" (1999), which is also available on Amazon Prime. In this film, a writer meets an old flame at his friend's wedding. It stars Taye Diggs, Nia Long, and Morris Chestnut. It's rated R and has a runtime of 2 hours.

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