The Best Man Movie Review
© Provided by CBRCreating an action film in a small space is often a recipe for success. In The Best Man, director Shane Dax Taylor takes this tried-and-true formula and creates what is essentially Die Hard at a wedding. Thus, instead of exchanging wishes, the characters exchange blows. Surprisingly, it turns out to be an action movie where the story is much stronger than the physics on display.
Directed by Taylor, he and K. Co-written by Alec Rossell, The Best Man features an ensemble cast. Cal (Luke Wilson), Bradley (Brendan Fehr) and Anders (Dolph Lundgren) are part of a special operations team sent to rescue Brooke (Nikki Whelan) from dangerous kidnappers. After a mission that doesn't end without injuries, Cal and Brooke fall in love. Bradley and Anders attend Cal and Brooke's lavish wedding at an exclusive secluded hotel; however, the holy matrimony becomes a sacred affair when mercenaries interrupt the proceedings and begin taking hostages.
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Although the title of the film is "The Best Man" , all the main characters are irreplaceable here, including Brooke and her sister Hayley (Scout Taylor-Compton). Because of this story choice, the tension gradually builds as the audience sees each person in danger and trying to avoid a seemingly inevitable death. Composer Matt Gates deserves a special mention for the lesser musical choices, as the ominous score also lowers the anxiety level.
Taylor does a pretty good job of balancing and breaking up the scenes so that the stars get plenty of screen time. Most importantly, the transitions aren't jarring or unnatural, with scenes cut in just the right places to keep the audience on their toes and dialed in at just the right time.
While Fehr may take top honors in The Best Man , standout performances come from Whelan, Taylor-Compton and Lundgren. Despite being surrounded and supported by trained snipers, Whelan and Taylor-Compton are forced to fend for themselves and make the right choices at critical moments in the film. Even in the most daring moments, the actors never fail to show how terrifying the ordeal is, adding a chilling realism to the situation. Lundgren's performance is different from what audiences might normally expect from the characters he portrays. Yes, he's still a performer with all the machismo dripping from his eyebrows, but he has inner demons that he must slay if he wants to survive.
However, where the film fails is the fight choreography, which exposes the actors' lack of training and fighting skills. Shocking shots and very fast cuts try to hide the film's flaws as best they can, but it's clear that the clinch is slow, indifferent and very telegraphic. Fortunately, the shooting sequences are much more exciting because they move quickly and have more impact.
The best man thriller ends with a magnetic mix of suspense and a gripping performance. The action scenes could have been shot with a little more care and attention, but that doesn't stop the movie from being a good time.
