The Best Man (2005)

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

My standards for comedy are so low that I can't think of one I didn't enjoy. Therefore, it is doubly damning that I found this film tedious and unfunny. I guess if you are a 12-year-old infatuated with Yuppies these cut-outs might stimulate your imagination. But basically none of the characters light up.At fault is the failure to provide the little touches that make us identify. Now, with the main character, the film starts by pointing out he lost his ability to write at just the moment he received his first advance ($50k). That's something but apparently the only upshot of that fact is he fears to write a short speech as best man in his friend's wedding. What promised to be a key insight into the character is dropped. The rest of the film is the tormented posturing of Yuppie types fulfilling various roles in a forthcoming wedding. With this misfire at character building, he blends in with all the other males who have no defining traits and all look equally out of a clothing catalog. Yet all the males seem intimately involved with each other and their male networking, even though none of them should have much to interest anyone, so that I began to explain it to myself as if they were a group of Gay men who somehow lucked into roles as participants in a wedding. In fact, if this had been the premise, the film would have coalesced a little better. As for the women, apart from a formal glamor they too had little to interest anyone. And all chemistry between the opposite sexes seems missing. But there were two incidents at variance with this. One is his life with his female employer who is very dissatisfied with his employment. It happens that he discovers she is only feigning to be a married woman and this discovery suddenly empowers him as a man. But then the scene cuts without telling us whether they made hay while the sun shined. In a similar incident, a female discovers his ruthless gambits to break up his friend's wedding and she is similarly empowered. Again a hint of lust, this time from her. And a scene cut.It is as if the film is compulsively drawn away from life and towards the purely manneristic involvement in the wedding planning. As the film progresses, it is merely tedious and when some slapstick scenes arrive I was already so anesthetized I felt as if I were seeing it through a psychiatric haze. Finally, he realizes he should be the groom. But no exuberance is actually conveyed to the audience. It doesn't make up for the leaden film we have endured. A late scene during the "action packed" denouement features a brief shot of him jet-skiing across the Thames before the London Bridge, a bit of American vulgarity in a film with phony British accents. Conventionally, there would have been at least enough of this footage to give a feeling of exhilaration in the audacious flight over water. This too was poorly done.Give me back my money.

Olly (Stuart Townshend) has aspired to be a writer from childhood. Yet, after gaining an advance of 50 grand from a publisher, Olly saw it all go up in smoke when he developed a major writer's block and could not complete his book. Instead, he has taken a job as a personal assistant to be small publishing firm that specializes in self-help works for women. It is a position he detests. Fortunately, Olly has two close friends that make life bearable. One is a somewhat uncouth businessman, Murray (Seth Green) and the other is a polished university mate, James (Steve John Shepherd). When James becomes engaged and asks Olly to be the best man, the young writer agrees. Yet, when he attends an engagement party for the couple, Olly falls instantly for the bride-to-be, beautiful Sarah (Amy Smart). Murray suggests that Olly pursue Sarah, and perhaps aid his own cause by digging up some dirt on James. But, wouldn't that be the ultimate betrayal of his, admittedly, snobby friend? This is a sweet story for the target audience of romcom lovers. Although the tale is somewhat tried and true, it still has some originality, too. For example, Olly receives an invitation to go out on the town with Sarah and her friends but declines, saying he has to stay home and "deworm the cat". Now if ever there was a great line of refusal, that's it. But, in addition, the film's cast is quite fine, with Townsend a dear as the heartsick best man and Smart a delight as the object of two men's affections. Green is also quite funny, sporting a British accent, as the film takes place in London. Costumes and production values are high as well. If you are a fan of funny love tales, hitch a ride to locate this one, if you have to. You will be very glad that you made the effort.

"The Best Man" explores well known territory. The best man falls for the bride who is about to marry a cheating, selfish bastard. We've seen it before and we've probably seen it better, too. Still, "The Best Man" gets away with rehashing a story that's older than Prince Charles' mom, because it's really charming at times. The mixed ensemble of British and American actors make a lot out of some rather trite lines in the script. Seth Green steals the show. The movie is at its worst when it's trying to be cute or sell Townsend as a lovable clown, when he's really so clumsy he should be locked away. And, oh, the "wrong chapel" joke at the end, that one's older than Catherine Zeta-Jones' husband! Still, "The Best Man" doesn't try to be anything else than a nice little romantic flick which gets a chuckle out of you every now and then and that's just what it is. Good clean fun to watch with your partner on a comfy evening at home.

"Best Man Worst Friend" was entirely enjoyable. The humor, the acting, and the story melded together to form an entertaining piece of art. I personally loved it due to the part that Seth Green's character, Murray Brown, had in it. He's quite the character. From the crotchless panties to the ostrich delivery man, Seth Green brings the destined lovers together in the quirkiest way possible. Although it was interesting to hear Seth Green speak with a British accent, after seeing him in other films with no accent, I think he pulled it off amiably. Amy Smart's performance was as charming as usual. A great casting choice I think. She fills the role of a beautiful, intelligent, woman who rethinks her path to happiness through marriage fantastically. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who needs a good laugh. Bravo!