‘Best Man Holiday’ a must see

Film: The Best Man Holiday
Cast: Morris Chestnut, Taya Diggs, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Latham, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, Monica Calhoun, Melissa De Sousa.
Writer & Director: Malcolm D Lee
Cinema: Eastgate
Running time: 123 minutes
Type of film: Family Melodrama
Age restriction: Adults only
Reviewed By Joel White.

At long last, an American film whose honesty and intent I can whole heartedly applaud.

Blacks in America make up a far smaller percent than most Zimbabweans realise, only 11 percent.

Heretofore, viewing American films depicting blacks, Zimbabweans have seen them invariably shown to be comics or criminals. This film is highly recommended in that it shows us the black urban middle class. Of great interest is a realistic portrayal by the only white man in the film as the boyfriend of one of the gang. We are in the eastern states of New York and its next door neighbour, New Jersey. Five or six characters have clung to the friendship they formed as teenagers, now ibn their 40s.

Typical of Americans of that age, they bring with them a complicated history. A couple are married; a couple are divorced; one is about to marry. The film reveals an interesting fact about the American population. Fanatically interested in professional sports, in particular baseball and American football, the ranks of these sports are filled inordinately with blacks. Herein lies the origin of a debate which has gone on for decades: are American blacks disproportionately skilful at sports, or is their involvement due to the prejudice which is said to be in what they face in all other walks of life? As an American born in New York in 1928, I have – as a psychologist – participated in lengthy debates with Zimbabweans who are understandably puzzled by the status of blacks in America.

Yes, overwhelmingly populating the ranks of sport, blacks in America are equally over-represented in the prisons. I cannot at present recall a film seen here which showed, as this film does, an American black family of great wealth, living a mansion existence.

The present, and relatively recent freedom by which Holly wood can depict the language used, the life style lived, the problems, and opportunities now available to a small percent of minority Americans, makes this film an education for, above all, those Zimbabweans who may one day live in America. Childhood friendships, surviving into the 40s, with all the pitfalls on the way, make this film one which is highly recommended.