The decision to kill off Mia in 'The Best Man Holiday' was a controversial one that left fans devastated and divided. Some viewers felt that her death made the movie unrewatchable, while others recognised the impact it had on the narrative and the opportunity it provided for exploring grief and the enduring strength of friendships. Director Malcolm D. Lee acknowledged the impact of Mia's death on fans, but defended his choice, explaining that he wanted to tell a story where Black audiences could emote in the movie theatre, and that Mia's death was the most meaningful way to achieve this.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Film | The Best Man Holiday |
Year of release | 2013 |
Genre | Comedy-drama |
Director | Malcolm D. Lee |
Writer | Malcolm D. Lee |
Producer | Sean Daniel |
Starring | Taye Diggs, Terrence Howard, Harold Perrineau, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Regina Hall, Melissa De Sousa |
Character who died | Mia Sullivan |
Reason for death | Terminal cancer |
Impact of death | Brought the friends closer, helped heal unresolved conflicts, inspired Harper's redemption |
Criticism | Made the movie unrewatchable, sad ending for a Christmas movie |
What You'll Learn
- Mia's death was a catalyst for healing and strengthening the friends' college bonds
- Mia's death inspired Lance to play and win the game, breaking the all-time rushing yards record
- Mia's death was a powerful narrative choice, adding a layer of realism to the film
- Mia's death was never shown or explained on screen, fuelling fan speculation
- Mia's death was a mystery, with fan theories ranging from illness to accident
Mia's death was a catalyst for healing and strengthening the friends' college bonds
The death of Mia in *Best Man Holiday* serves as a catalyst for healing and strengthening the bonds formed between friends from college. Mia's passing brings unresolved conflicts to the surface and helps to rekindle their friendships.
Mia's death allows the characters to confront and move past old tensions, such as Harper's awkward attempts to mend his friendship with Lance, Shelby's pursuit of Julian, and Robyn's struggle to bond with Jordan. Harper, in particular, is able to reconcile with Lance and put their past differences aside. The friends also come together to support each other in the wake of Mia's death, with Q vowing to help Harper financially and the group volunteering at a shelter.
Mia's death also inspires the characters to try to be better people. For example, Harper's redemption arc sees him writing a biography of Lance and mending his relationship with him, despite their history. The film ends with Harper and Lance closer than ever, with Harper having written Lance's biography.
Additionally, Mia's death is a reminder of the fragility of life and how it can be taken away at any moment. This is reflected in the film's exploration of themes such as love, friendship, faith, and forgiveness. The friends' shared experience of losing Mia brings them closer together and helps them realize what's truly important in life.
While some viewers may have been saddened or disappointed by Mia's death, it ultimately serves a narrative purpose by creating an opportunity for the characters to heal, grow, and strengthen their bonds.
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Mia's death inspired Lance to play and win the game, breaking the all-time rushing yards record
Mia's death in *Best Man Holiday* was a pivotal moment in the film, and its impact on the characters was profound. One of the most notable ways it affected the storyline was through Lance's character development and his subsequent athletic triumph.
Mia's death served as a source of inspiration for Lance, her husband, who was a running back for the New York Giants. Despite initially refusing to play, insisting that caring for Mia was more important, he ultimately decided to compete in the game after receiving a motivational phone call from her. This phone call proved to be a turning point, as Lance went on to break the all-time rushing yards record and win the game.
Mia's influence extended beyond her death, as she was able to inspire and encourage Lance to achieve athletic glory. Her passing not only brought the friends together but also seemed to strengthen their bonds and inspire them to be better people.
Lance's achievement in the game was a testament to Mia's enduring impact and the power of their connection. It demonstrated that even in her absence, she continued to be a driving force in his life, pushing him to reach new heights and overcome challenges.
Mia's death also added a layer of complexity to the film, exploring themes of love, loss, and the fragility of life. It provided an opportunity for the characters to confront their mortality and reflect on the importance of their relationships.
While some viewers may have been saddened by Mia's death, it ultimately served a narrative purpose, highlighting the unbreakable bond between Mia and Lance and showcasing the power of love and friendship in the face of tragedy.
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Mia's death was a powerful narrative choice, adding a layer of realism to the film
Mia's death in "The Best Man Holiday" was a powerful narrative choice that added a layer of realism to the film. The decision to kill off Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, was a bold move by writer and director Malcolm D. Lee. While some viewers may have been devastated or felt that it made the movie unrewatchable, others recognised the impact it had on the story and the depth it added to the characters' journeys.
The inclusion of Mia's terminal cancer diagnosis and subsequent death brought a sense of realism and emotional depth to the film. It allowed the audience to witness the raw and vulnerable emotions of the characters as they navigated grief and loss. This was a departure from the typical light-hearted and comedic tone of the previous film, "The Best Man," and offered a more mature exploration of the themes of love, friendship, faith, and forgiveness.
Mia's death served as a catalyst for healing and character development among the friends. It brought unresolved conflicts to the surface and helped to rekindle and strengthen their bonds. The characters were forced to confront their own mortality and the fragility of life, which led to a deeper exploration of their relationships and a greater appreciation for the time they had together.
Additionally, Mia's death provided an opportunity for the characters to reflect on their past actions and seek redemption. Harper, in particular, underwent a transformative arc as he grappled with his guilt over his past betrayal of Lance and found solace in the support of his friends. The shared experience of loss brought the characters closer together and allowed them to let go of past grudges, with Harper and Lance ultimately reconciling and becoming closer than ever.
While Mia's death was a tragic and unexpected twist, it added complexity and emotional depth to the film. It provided a platform for the exploration of universal themes such as mortality, grief, and the importance of friendship and love. By including this narrative choice, Lee created a more nuanced and impactful story that resonated with audiences and allowed the characters to undergo meaningful growth and transformation.
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Mia's death was never shown or explained on screen, fuelling fan speculation
The decision to kill off Mia in 'Best Man Holiday' was met with mixed reactions from fans. While some appreciated the impact her death had on the characters and the narrative, others were left disappointed, feeling that her absence made the film less enjoyable and rewatchable.
The decision to kill off Mia was intended to have a profound impact on the story and its characters. As the group of friends reunites after 14 years, Mia's terminal cancer diagnosis serves as a stark reminder of life's unpredictability and the importance of cherishing relationships. Her death becomes a catalyst for healing, bringing unresolved conflicts to the surface and ultimately strengthening the bonds between the friends.
While some fans understood the narrative purpose of Mia's death, others struggled to accept it. Some viewers expressed disappointment, feeling that the character's death left a void in the film and the franchise. They argued that Mia's absence diminished the enjoyment and rewatch value of the movie, especially given the otherwise light-hearted and festive theme.
The impact of Mia's death extended beyond the film, with fans expressing their desire to see more of her in subsequent instalments. Despite the mixed reactions, Lee stood by his decision, acknowledging that while it was a difficult choice, it ultimately served the story he wanted to tell.
Mia's death in 'Best Man Holiday' remains a divisive topic among fans, highlighting the complex emotions evoked by the narrative choice. While some appreciated the exploration of grief and the impact of loss, others found it challenging to accept the absence of a beloved character.
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Mia's death was a mystery, with fan theories ranging from illness to accident
Mia's death was a mystery to fans of The Best Man Holiday, with theories ranging from illness to accident. Some viewers speculated that she died from an accident, as her death came as a surprise to the other characters in the film. However, it was later revealed that Mia had been battling terminal cancer, which was only disclosed to the audience when she was seen throwing up blood and later collapsed. This led to some fan theories that her death was due to an illness.
The revelation of Mia's cancer diagnosis added an extra layer of emotion to the film, as the characters grappled with the fragility of life and the importance of resolving conflicts. Mia's death served as a catalyst for healing among the friends, bringing them closer together and helping them to rekindle and strengthen their bonds.
Despite the impact of Mia's death on the storyline and the characters' development, some fans criticised the decision to kill off her character. One viewer commented that it made the film "not rewatchable", while another lamented the absence of Mia in the subsequent instalments of the franchise. Others, however, defended the choice, acknowledging the powerful impact of Mia's death on the narrative and the opportunity it provided for the exploration of grief and emotion within the context of Black characters' experiences.
The writer and director of the film, Malcolm D. Lee, acknowledged the controversy surrounding Mia's death but stood by his decision, explaining that he wanted to tell a story where Black audiences could emote in the movie theatre, an opportunity that is not often presented in films. Lee also revealed that the choice to have Mia's character battle cancer was influenced by his own personal experiences, as both his mother and father had been affected by the disease.
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Frequently asked questions
Writer and director Malcolm D. Lee said he wanted to tell a story where Black folks got to emote at the movie theater. Lee and his wife have both been affected by cancer, so he wanted to tell a story that would allow Black audiences to grieve in a movie theater.
Lee said that Mia's death would have the most impact on the audience compared to the other characters.
Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, died of terminal cancer.