THE BEST MAN

You get a polished, entertaining romantic comedy with a talented cast and a satisfying ending that extols religious commitment and marriage. The film quotes biblical truths about love, urges prayer, and ultimately validates Christian belief—even after mocking those beliefs earlier.

But the cost is high. The movie contains abundant foul language, many uses of the “f” word, sexual immorality, and a bachelor-party sequence featuring semi-nude dancers, close-ups of nearly total rear female nudity, and vulgar sexuality. The source review says the positive ending nearly saves the rest of the movie, not that the troubling material is harmless.

If you are an adult willing to exercise careful discernment, the film has real merit. For children and young teens, the answer is clear: do not see it.

Harper Stewart, a young Black writer, returns to New York for the wedding of his longtime friend Lance Sullivan, a superstar National Football League athlete. Harper soon discovers that his friends are passing around his new book, a thinly disguised memoir of their college years.

The book threatens to expose an old secret involving Lance’s future bride, Mia. Harper must also sort out his feelings for Jordan, a bridesmaid, while his girlfriend, Robin, is flying in from Chicago. The wedding weekend places old friendships, romance, faith, and honesty under pressure.

Four stars means this is a highly entertaining, polished romantic comedy whose flaws are moral and content-related rather than primarily artistic. The cast performs extremely well across the board.

Terrence Howard nearly steals the show as Quentin, while Taye Diggs makes a strong lead, especially in scenes opposite Morris Chestnut. Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, and Monica Calhoun also help deliver the story’s emotional payoff. Calhoun’s straightforward honesty shines through her warm eyes, and Lathan plays a crucial role in the happy, morally uplifting ending.

The film presents a romantic worldview about human nature, but it ultimately moves toward moral and Christian ideas about romance, marriage, prayer, and divine love. Lance is a committed Christian who tries to help his agnostic friend Harper acknowledge God. The story also recognizes hypocrisy: Lance’s past lifestyle conflicts with his faith, and he must face the damage caused by his choices.

The movie sometimes mocks Lance’s Christian beliefs in an obnoxious fashion. Still, its resolution validates those beliefs. Harper urges Lance to pray about the wedding, one character quotes Paul’s definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13, and another says there is nothing greater than love “because God is love.” The ending’s admonition to “love one another as God loves us” points toward a Christian understanding of love as more than desire.

At the same time, the film includes pagan sexuality and lifestyle choices that can undermine its Christian witness. Its sexually immoral characters and vulgar bachelor-party entertainment show the heartache and turmoil such choices can produce, even as the ending celebrates religious commitment and marriage.

The film’s central longing is for love that can survive selfishness, betrayal, and fear. Scripture says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” (1 Corinthians 13:4).

This is a slick, well-acted romantic comedy with a genuinely positive Christian ending. Its abundant profanity, sexual immorality, and explicit bachelor-party dancing make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, however, the film’s strong performances and moral resolution make it WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other options, see.