Mia's Departure: Best Man's Unspoken Mystery Explained

In the 2013 film 'The Best Man Holiday', Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, dies from cancer. Her death occurs at the end of the film, which sees the group of friends gathering for Christmas. Mia's husband, Lance, has been grieving her death ever since. The film's writer and director, Malcolm D. Lee, has explained that Mia's death was intended to explore grief and allow Black audiences to emote in the movie theatre.

Mia's death in 'The Best Man Holiday' was due to cancer

Mia's death in The Best Man Holiday was due to cancer. In the film, Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, is diagnosed with terminal cancer. She invites Harper, Robyn, and the rest of their friend group for Christmas. While the friends are catching up, Harper finds Mia vomiting blood and she tells him about her diagnosis, asking him to help her husband, Lance, accept it.

Mia's condition is revealed to the rest of the group when she collapses while the ladies are preparing for a spa day. Her illness and impending death inspire the group to try to be better people and to mend old wounds. Harper, in particular, is moved to finally disclose the truth about his financial situation.

Mia's death affects Lance deeply, and he struggles to cope with his grief. In the film's sequel, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Lance is still mourning his wife and is shown to be burying his feelings with a string of one-night stands. Despite her death, Mia appears in The Final Chapters in a dream sequence, where she and Lance are seen relaxing by the pool and expressing their love for each other.

Mia's death allowed Black audiences to emote in the movie theatre

In the 2013 comedy-drama film "The Best Man Holiday", Mia (played by Monica Calhoun) dies from cancer. The writer and director of the film, Malcolm D. Lee, explained that he wanted to tell a story where Black audiences could emote in the movie theatre. Lee acknowledged that some viewers might not have forgiven him for this turn in the script, but he stands by his reasoning for taking audiences on a grief journey.

Lee's intention was to create a space for Black audiences to experience and express their emotions freely in a movie theatre, which he felt was a rare opportunity for this demographic. By including Mia's death as a pivotal moment in the film, Lee provided a catalyst for audiences to engage with the characters' grief and process their own emotions. This decision to focus on Mia's death allowed Black audiences to connect with the story on a deeper level and emphasised the impact of her passing on the other characters and the overall narrative arc.

Mia's death served as a significant turning point in the film, affecting not only her husband Lance but also the dynamic among the group of friends. It brought about a sense of closeness and inspired them to strive to become better people. The raw and honest portrayal of grief in "The Best Man Holiday" created a space for Black audiences to engage with and express their emotions, reflecting Lee's intention to centre their emotional experience.

The decision to kill off Mia in "The Best Man Holiday" was not without controversy. Some viewers expressed disappointment and struggled to rewatch the film due to the sad ending. However, others recognised the impact of her death on the narrative and the powerful emotions it evoked, even if they missed the character's presence in subsequent instalments of the franchise.

In conclusion, Mia's death in "The Best Man Holiday" served as a powerful narrative device that allowed Black audiences to emote in the movie theatre. It created a space for viewers to connect with the characters' grief and process their own emotions, reflecting Lee's intention to centre the emotional experience of Black audiences and provide a rare opportunity for them to engage with a film on a deeper, more personal level.

Mia's death was criticised by some fans

Mia's death in The Best Man Holiday was criticised by some fans. The character, played by Monica Calhoun, died of cancer at the end of the 2013 film.

Some viewers felt that the death of Mia, and the grief journey of the characters, detracted from the enjoyment of the film. One fan said that Mia's death made the film "not rewatchable". Another said that they missed the character throughout the series. Some viewers were disappointed that Mia's death meant that Lance's character arc, which they felt was supposed to be about monogamy, did not play out as they expected.

However, some fans defended the plotline, saying that Mia's death had a huge impact on the characters and inspired them to be better people. One fan said that although they missed Mia, her death made it feel like something was missing, which is what death does in real life and so maybe it was a good move. Another fan said that they understood why the writer and director, Malcolm D. Lee, chose to kill off the character, saying: Black folks don't get a chance to emote at the movie theatre... I wanted it to happen and it wasn't going to happen with any other character as much as it would with Mia. Lee himself has stood by his decision, saying that he wanted to tell a story where "Black folks got to emote at the movie theatre".

Mia's death was a pivotal moment in the film

Mia's death was not without controversy, however. Some fans of the franchise were devastated by her demise and felt that it made the film unrewatchable. They questioned the decision to kill off Mia, especially in a Christmas-themed movie, as it detracted from the festive cheer and left a void in the storyline. Nevertheless, others defended the choice, arguing that it added depth and emotion to the story, allowing Black characters to express their feelings in a way that is not often portrayed in films.

The writer and director of the film, Malcolm D. Lee, stood by his decision to make Mia's death a pivotal moment in the film. He explained that he wanted to tell a story where Black characters could openly express their emotions, and Mia's cancer diagnosis and subsequent death provided that opportunity. Lee acknowledged that some viewers might never forgive him for that narrative choice, but he believed it was essential to explore the grief journey of the characters and showcase the impact of Mia's absence.

Mia's death also had a lasting impact on the franchise. In the subsequent series "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", Lance is still mourning his wife and coping with his grief through a string of one-night stands. The show found creative ways to include Calhoun and pay homage to her character, including flashbacks and dream sequences. Despite her physical absence, Mia's presence was still felt, demonstrating the enduring significance of her character even after her death.

Mia's death was foreshadowed by her vomiting blood

Mia's death in The Best Man Holiday was foreshadowed by her vomiting blood. In the film, Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, which ultimately leads to her demise. This tragic turn of events left fans of the franchise devastated and sparked discussions about the impact of her death on the story and the other characters.

The foreshadowing of Mia vomiting blood is a pivotal moment in the film, as it serves as a stark indicator of her declining health and the inevitable outcome. It is revealed that Mia has been struggling with cancer, and her condition takes a turn for the worse during the events of the film. This particular scene, where she is found in distress by another character, is a crucial turning point that signals to both the characters and the audience that Mia's health is deteriorating rapidly.

Mia's illness and subsequent death have a profound impact on the other characters and the overall narrative. Her husband, Lance, played by Morris Chestnut, is grieving her loss and struggling to cope with his new reality. Lance's grief is a central theme in the film's sequel and spin-off series, where he is shown to be mourning his wife's passing and attempting to move forward with his life. The loss of Mia also affects the dynamics among the group of friends, as they rally around each other and navigate their own emotions in response to her death.

The decision to include Mia's illness and death in the film was made by writer and director Malcolm D. Lee. Lee has explained that he wanted to tell a story that explored grief and allowed Black characters to express their emotions on screen. He felt that Mia's death would have the most significant impact on the story and provide an opportunity for the characters to confront their feelings in a meaningful way.

While some fans have expressed disappointment or disagreement with the decision to kill off Mia's character, others have found it to be a powerful and moving element of the story. The exploration of grief and the emotional journey of the characters have resonated with many viewers, highlighting the impact of Mia's death on the overall narrative arc of The Best Man franchise.

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