The Ultimate Man Movie: What Defines It?

The Best Man is a 1999 comedy-drama film written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars Taye Diggs as Harper Stewart, an up-and-coming writer who is about to publish his debut novel, Unfinished Business. Harper is also facing relationship troubles with his girlfriend, Robyn, due to his commitment issues. He travels to New York to serve as the best man at his friend Lance Sullivan's wedding and reunites with a group of college friends. The film explores themes of friendship, romance, and the challenges of adulthood, with a particular focus on the African-American experience. The cast's strong performances and the well-developed characters have been praised by critics, making The Best Man a notable addition to the reunion and romantic comedy genres.

The challenges of creating crossover appeal

The 1999 film The Best Man, written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, is a romantic comedy-drama that centres on the relationships of a group of black friends. The film's cast is almost exclusively African American, and it has been noted that one of the challenges for the film's distributor, Universal, was to generate crossover appeal for a story with no white characters. This is because, historically, black romantic comedies have not been particularly successful at the box office, with the exception of Waiting to Exhale.

The Best Man was well-received by critics, who praised its strong cast and well-defined characters, and it ultimately made over $34 million during its theatrical run. However, it is unclear how successful the film was in attracting a crossover audience.

The film's plot revolves around Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), a writer whose autobiographical debut novel is about to be published. The novel is based on Harper's group of college friends, and the story is filled with secrets that threaten to upend his friend Lance's wedding. The film explores themes of fidelity, gender roles, double standards, and honesty, and it has been noted that it goes deeper than most romantic comedies.

In addition to the challenge of creating crossover appeal, the film also faced the challenge of dealing with race in a way that felt authentic and meaningful. Despite the almost all-black cast, race is largely ignored in the film, and it has been suggested that this may have been a missed opportunity to explore issues of race and representation in a more substantive way.

Despite these challenges, The Best Man was a critical and commercial success, and it has since spawned a sequel and a limited series, indicating that the film resonated with audiences and helped to expand the range of stories and perspectives represented on screen.

The characters' coming-of-age stories

The Best Man is a comedy-drama film that explores the coming-of-age stories of its characters, specifically their transition into adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it. Harper Stewart, the protagonist, is an up-and-coming writer whose debut novel, Unfinished Business, is about to be published. Harper's girlfriend, Robyn, is frustrated by his reluctance to commit to her, and this tension sets the tone for the film's exploration of maturity and emotional honesty.

As Harper reunites with his group of college friends, including Jordan Armstrong, Julian "Murch" Murchison, and Quentin Spivey, long-buried secrets and unresolved conflicts come to light. The film delves into their individual journeys of self-discovery, as they confront their flaws and weaknesses. For example, Harper's fear of commitment and uncertainty about remaining a bachelor are exposed, while Murch's inability to stand up to his domineering girlfriend, Shelby, is revealed.

The film portrays the characters' growth and transformation as they navigate these challenges. Harper, in particular, undergoes a notable arc, starting as a role model for his friends but gradually revealing weaknesses that make him more human and flawed. The characters' interactions and confrontations force them to confront their true feelings, face their emotions honestly, and make difficult choices about their relationships and future paths.

The Best Man presents a thoughtful exploration of the complexities of adulthood, the challenges of maturing, and the importance of emotional honesty. By the end of the film, the characters have undergone a coming-of-age journey, gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships, and evolving into more authentic versions of themselves.

The film's treatment of race

The film's writer and director, Malcolm D. Lee, has been applauded for his nuanced portrayal of the African American male experience, which is often underrepresented in cinema. By focusing on the characters' relationships, careers, and personal struggles, Lee offers a refreshing perspective that transcends racial stereotypes and presents a more holistic view of the African American community. This approach has been described as observing rather than judging, allowing the audience to connect with the characters on a deeper level.

However, the absence of explicit racial themes in "The Best Man" has also been a point of contention for some critics. In a movie with an almost exclusively African American cast, the lack of direct engagement with race-related issues may be seen as a missed opportunity to address important topics. While the film excels in depicting universal human experiences, such as relationships and coming-of-age, it may also be viewed as sidestepping the unique challenges and perspectives that come with being a racial minority.

Furthermore, the film has been criticised for perpetuating racial stereotypes through its characters' use of racially charged language. Black characters in the film refer to each other using terms like "mandingo" and the N-word, which may be seen as perpetuating harmful stereotypes and divisive rhetoric. This aspect of the film has been described as a form of "black-on-black racism", reflecting a complex and contentious aspect of racial discourse within the African American community.

Overall, "The Best Man" presents a nuanced and multifaceted treatment of race. While the film has been praised for its diverse representation and exploration of the African American male experience, it has also faced criticism for its lack of explicit racial themes and its use of racially charged language. The film invites a dialogue about the role of race in cinema and the complexities of representing diverse experiences on screen.

The role of secrets and honesty in relationships

Secrets and honesty play a pivotal role in the movie "The Best Man". The movie centres around a group of friends and their tangled web of relationships. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that secrets and honesty are central to the plot and the development of the characters.

The main character, Harper Stewart, is a commitment-shy writer who is about to publish his debut novel, "Unfinished Business". The novel is based on Harper's life and the lives of his friends, and as they gather for a wedding, they realise that they are all depicted in the book. This sets the stage for a series of revelations and conflicts as the characters confront their secrets and the truth about their relationships.

One of the main secrets in the movie is Harper's past relationship with Jordan Armstrong, his college roommate. Jordan wants to rekindle their romance, but Harper is unsure about remaining a bachelor as he is also in a relationship with Robin, his devoted girlfriend. Harper's fear of commitment is a result of his inability to be honest with himself and his true feelings for Jordan. This secret creates tension and conflict in the movie, as Jordan pursues Harper, and Robin, frustrated by his unwillingness to commit, prepares to leave.

Another secret that unfolds is Harper's one-night stand with Mia Morgan, the bride-to-be. This revelation threatens to derail the wedding as the groom, Lance Sullivan, is enraged by Harper's betrayal. The secret also forces Harper to confront his own flaws and the impact his actions have had on his friends.

The movie highlights the importance of honesty in relationships. As the characters navigate their secrets and lies, they learn that honesty is crucial for building trust and resolving conflicts. Harper, in particular, undergoes a transformation as he recognises the need to be honest with himself and those around him. His journey towards self-acceptance and honesty leads to positive growth and transformation within the group of friends.

Overall, "The Best Man" uses the theme of secrets and honesty to explore the complexities of relationships, the challenges of adulthood, and the importance of facing one's emotions. By doing so, the movie provides a thoughtful and entertaining take on the reunion genre, offering a unique perspective on love, marriage, and friendship within a specific cultural context.

The film's exploration of gender roles and double standards

The Best Man is a 1999 comedy-drama film that explores gender roles and double standards through its portrayal of a group of college friends reuniting for a wedding. The film centres on Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), a commitment-shy writer who is about to publish a novel based on his life and the lives of his friends. As the group gathers for the wedding of Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut) and Mia Morgan (Monica Calhoun), secrets and tensions begin to emerge, challenging the characters' ideas of gender roles and exposing double standards.

One of the most prominent themes explored in the film is the double standard surrounding infidelity. Lance, the groom, is a pro football star with a history of infidelity. He regularly cheats on his fiancée, Mia, but cannot tolerate the idea that she has been with another man. This double standard sets the stage for conflict when it is revealed that Mia once shared a night with Harper, threatening to derail the wedding. The film delves into Lance's struggle to process this information, forcing him to confront his chauvinistic views and outdated ideas of marriage.

The film also explores gender roles and double standards through the character of Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long), a successful career woman. Jordan is portrayed as ambitious and sexually confident, challenging traditional gender norms. She is unapologetic about her desires and actively pursues Harper, despite his reluctance to act on their mutual attraction. Jordan's character challenges the notion that women should be passive in romantic pursuits and highlights the double standard that exists between men and women's sexual behaviours.

Additionally, The Best Man touches on issues of female agency and the objectification of women. One of the male characters, Quentin Spivey (Terrence Howard), is known for his womanising behaviour and views women as conquests. However, he cannot tolerate the idea that his fiancée may have a sexual history, reflecting a double standard in how men and women's sexual behaviours are perceived. The film also addresses the objectification of women through the character of Candy (Regina Hall), a stripper who surprises the group by revealing a poetic streak, challenging their preconceived notions.

The exploration of gender roles and double standards in The Best Man adds depth to the film, elevating it beyond a typical romantic comedy. By tackling these themes, the film provides a more nuanced portrayal of relationships and friendships, highlighting the complexities and flaws in the characters' beliefs and behaviours.

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