Directed and written by Spike Lee's cousin Malcolm D. Lee, "The Best Man" was produced by Spike Lee himself. The movie features an ensemble cast of talented characters including Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Terence Howard, Monica Calhoun and Sanaa Lathan. In 2013, the cast would reunite with a holiday season themed film "A Best Man Holiday".
The opening scenes to "The Best Man" centres around Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), an author residing in Chicago along with his gorgeous and casual girlfriend, Robyn (Sanaa Lathan). One day Harper comes home from several meeting to tell Robyn the news that his latest novel "Unfinished Business" has bee approved by Oprah's Book Club and will be sent out for publication. Harper and Robyn celebrate by getting in the hot tub. Though they have been steady for the last two years and everything is going well in their relationship, Harper is still unsure of himself if he's up to it when it comes to marrying Robyn. Robyn is offended by Harper's response and still feels that the reason for his reluctance in marrying her is because Harper is still esoterically in love with an old college flame that was mentioned in his book. Howerver, they attend the wedding of Harper's college friend's wedding in New York City.
Harper has been given the duties as the best man (hence the title) and is reunited with his friends from college. The inner circle consists of the groom himself Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut) who has become a star running back for the New York Giants. Lance's bride, his smart and affectionate college lover Mia Morgan (Monica Calhoun). Also joining the fray includes good Samaritan type Julian "Murch" Murchison (Harold Perrineau) who seems more interested in working with developentally delayed children rather working in the law firm which has a higher payroll. Then there's the outspoken Quentin Spivey (Terence Howard) who shifts from one artistic ambition to another and also seems to have different women. And then there's Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long) a successful TV producer, who feels that her frienship with Harper can go to the next level. Also they are in company with Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) who is Mia's sorority sister and overbearing girlfriend of Murch who the guys clearly despise.
Harper grows concerned when Jordan reveals that she has purchased an advanced copy of his book fearing that the gang will catch on that the characters in his novel are subtle images of each other unraveling his true personal feelings about them and how will they react once they read it. On the night of Lance's batchelor party, Murch overcomes Shelby's demands and joins the guys for a night of fun and raunchiness. Murch starts to become attracted to one of the strippers that was hired by Quentin named Candy Sparks (Regina Hall in her acting debut). Meanwhile as Harper and Jordan take their mutual attraction to the next level, he tries to prevent Lance from finishing his novel as it reveals a dark secret about a secret affair he had with Mia when they were in college. Lance understandably retaliates angerily at Harper and attacks him which ends up with him calling off the marriage. Harper then lashes out his anger on Jordan accusing her of exploiting the book days before the wedding. Jordan fires back saying that he should never wrote about it in the first place if it was such a dark and dirty secret. In a way she's right. He made his bed, now he has to sleep in it.
By the next morning, Harper goes to the airport pick up Robyn who is devastated when he finally confesses everything to her. Robyn decides to attend the wedding anyway feeling it's her intentions as to what has been keeping them back fro marrying each other. When the guests arrive at the church, Lance was nowhere to be found. The collaborate in trying to decide where to go to look for him. Robyn tries everything to comfort a concerned Mia. Lance then finally shows up telling his parents that the wedding is off. But Harper assures Lance that his love for Mia is the reason why this wedding must continue. The wedding is back on and and the ceremony was breath-taking. Murch and Candy are now a couple with Shelby in the lurch much to the amusement of Quentin. Harper and Jordan know that they can't go any further than just being friends knowing that Robyn is his true soulmate and in front of the guests, Harper proposes Robyn. And everything ends with an electric slide.
The opening scenes to "The Best Man" centres around Harper Stewart (Taye Diggs), an author residing in Chicago along with his gorgeous and casual girlfriend, Robyn (Sanaa Lathan). One day Harper comes home from several meeting to tell Robyn the news that his latest novel "Unfinished Business" has bee approved by Oprah's Book Club and will be sent out for publication. Harper and Robyn celebrate by getting in the hot tub. Though they have been steady for the last two years and everything is going well in their relationship, Harper is still unsure of himself if he's up to it when it comes to marrying Robyn. Robyn is offended by Harper's response and still feels that the reason for his reluctance in marrying her is because Harper is still esoterically in love with an old college flame that was mentioned in his book. Howerver, they attend the wedding of Harper's college friend's wedding in New York City.
Harper has been given the duties as the best man (hence the title) and is reunited with his friends from college. The inner circle consists of the groom himself Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut) who has become a star running back for the New York Giants. Lance's bride, his smart and affectionate college lover Mia Morgan (Monica Calhoun). Also joining the fray includes good Samaritan type Julian "Murch" Murchison (Harold Perrineau) who seems more interested in working with developentally delayed children rather working in the law firm which has a higher payroll. Then there's the outspoken Quentin Spivey (Terence Howard) who shifts from one artistic ambition to another and also seems to have different women. And then there's Jordan Armstrong (Nia Long) a successful TV producer, who feels that her frienship with Harper can go to the next level. Also they are in company with Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) who is Mia's sorority sister and overbearing girlfriend of Murch who the guys clearly despise.
Harper grows concerned when Jordan reveals that she has purchased an advanced copy of his book fearing that the gang will catch on that the characters in his novel are subtle images of each other unraveling his true personal feelings about them and how will they react once they read it. On the night of Lance's batchelor party, Murch overcomes Shelby's demands and joins the guys for a night of fun and raunchiness. Murch starts to become attracted to one of the strippers that was hired by Quentin named Candy Sparks (Regina Hall in her acting debut). Meanwhile as Harper and Jordan take their mutual attraction to the next level, he tries to prevent Lance from finishing his novel as it reveals a dark secret about a secret affair he had with Mia when they were in college. Lance understandably retaliates angerily at Harper and attacks him which ends up with him calling off the marriage. Harper then lashes out his anger on Jordan accusing her of exploiting the book days before the wedding. Jordan fires back saying that he should never wrote about it in the first place if it was such a dark and dirty secret. In a way she's right. He made his bed, now he has to sleep in it.
By the next morning, Harper goes to the airport pick up Robyn who is devastated when he finally confesses everything to her. Robyn decides to attend the wedding anyway feeling it's her intentions as to what has been keeping them back fro marrying each other. When the guests arrive at the church, Lance was nowhere to be found. The collaborate in trying to decide where to go to look for him. Robyn tries everything to comfort a concerned Mia. Lance then finally shows up telling his parents that the wedding is off. But Harper assures Lance that his love for Mia is the reason why this wedding must continue. The wedding is back on and and the ceremony was breath-taking. Murch and Candy are now a couple with Shelby in the lurch much to the amusement of Quentin. Harper and Jordan know that they can't go any further than just being friends knowing that Robyn is his true soulmate and in front of the guests, Harper proposes Robyn. And everything ends with an electric slide.