6 Topics for further discussion after watching the movie, "Best Man Holiday"

6 Topics for further discussion after watching the movie, 

"Best Man Holiday" 

By: Ethan Brisby

@EthanBrisby

“Best Man Holiday” hit the theaters on Friday (11/15/2013), and fans planned accordingly in anticipation of this much publicized second coming. 

A certain subset of American culture has been waiting months if not years for the sequel to the timeless original movie, “Best Man.” The 1999 film depicts the lives of college friends who come together for their friends’ wedding, only to discover that years prior the best man had slept with the bride to be. 

  

I played my role by visiting an Austin area Tinseltown this afternoon to witness this modern day drama. I walked away with thoughts on life scenarios movie goers can glean from this soap opera of a film.

Here are six topics for further discussion I captured while watching “Best Man Holiday”

On a woman and her sexual past...

Thought: Today’s independent, sexually liberated woman will be someone’s wife someday (or she hopes)

Question: How significant is the value of a woman’s sexual past as it relates to her current worth?  

The song that comes to mind is “Memories Back Then” by T.I., Kendrick Lamar, B.O.B, and Kris Stevens The first verse, by Clifford Harris AKA T.I is most fitting, and in particular his last sentence.  

 On financial security...

The threat or reality of financial instability is a real issue in all classes of people and all levels of life.

Question to ask: What are you willing to do to remain on top, once you get there?

Life in mainstream society is all about progress and what it takes to make that progress. For this reason, I am reminded of the theme song from the 70s hit televisions show, "The Jeffersons" 

    

3.      On friends and good times...

Thought: Your true friends are the people closest to you, of whom you have survived adversity together.

Question: What are you willing to do to keep a longtime friendship alive?

I believe one of the pioneer hip hop funk music groups, Whodini, said it best, "friends…, how many of us have them?" 

    

4.       On forgiveness...

Thought: Forgiveness is a gift from God, but it has to be earned and consciously kept alive.

Thought: Bearing a grudge is a heavy burden to bear

Question: Are you a compassionate enough person to turn the other cheek?

Those with a true endearment for forgiveness are true giants of mankind 

5.       On the Circle of Life...

Thought: To every activity under the sun, there is a time and a place.

Question: What will you do with your allotment of time here on earth?

I hope we all remember the Lion King sound track, and while I’d love to share Hakuna Mutata for the heck of it...,“Circle of Life” is more fitting for "The Best Man Holiday." 

  

6.      On love

Thought: Under all the layers of greed, hate, envy, vengeance, and lust, we all just want to be loved.

Question: Do you have what it takes to live out loud AND love from the heart?

Musical artistry has given us so much on the love lifestyle, that my mind became a sea of songs thinking about so many songs and lyrics. I hope you'll enjoy Kem featuring Chrisette Michelle "If it's Love"

Overall, I give "Best Man Holiday," which is written and directed by Malcolm D. Lee, a solid B+. The best part was the warm feeling I got inside while experiencing the imagery of friends enduring together. The theatrical evolution of the characters, was very well put together. The “where are the now” questions were answered early on, which included a “Real Housewife,” a best-selling author, a media executive, and of course the addition of little ones. 

To me, this film is a hyper-drama and stacks the deck with emotional innuendo. So, if you like to be fully invested scene-by-scene in a movie, I’d advise you to take Kleenex. I believe it is fitting for the times we live, and on a lighter note, there were many laughs scattered throughout  

But don’t take my word for it, go out and support this film which stars: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Harold Perrineau, Regina Hall, Terrance Howard, Melissa De Sousa, and Eddie Cibrian. 

Chiefly, I encourage you to use the thoughts and questions I have outlined as guides for ongoing conversation with your friends, family, and associates.   

Ethan Brisby is Reporter, Educational/Business Consultant, and Public Speaker based in Austin, Texas. He chronicles his life and other things here on www.ethanbrisby.blogspot.com follow him everywhere @ethanbrisby