Best Man Down - A Movie Review

You never know what’s going on in somebody’s life.

Best Man Down is a 2012 film. On the wedding night, the best man gets drunk and dies. The newlywed couple has to cancel their trip to plan for the funeral. Making the arrangements, they learn of an acquaintance of Lumpy’s who they never knew.

Movies are a way of making us feel an assortment of relatable emotions. Best Man Down is one of those films. It’s a beautifully touching film. This is a film about friendship, learning to cope, and adventure.

Spending most of their time bickering and disagreeing, Scott and Kristin don’t feel like the right couple. Then again, this is what relationships are all about. Couples need to learn how to live with each other's quirks to make the relationship work. Justin Long and Jess Weixler were great in their performances, forming a healthier bond.

Tyler Labine played his part like he was someone who you’ve always been friends with. Labine did an amazing job with the role of Lumpy. He is a funny actor who also does a good job switching into a serious tone. Lumpy made a big impact on the film. I adored the friendships he created with each character.

Ramsey’s story could have been written stronger. Her character is introduced quickly with not much leading into her storyline. Related to Lumpy’s story, it suddenly switches to flashbacks when we were viewing the film in the present. Addison Timlin was great in her part, studying a strong emotional arc.

It’s a character film. Best Man Down had a good cast of actors. There’s not a lot of exposition. Starting from the middle is a good technique in the film world. More credits include Shelley Long, Frances O’Connor, Evan Jones, James Michael Detmer, and an expressive ensemble in the wedding sequences.

I would have written this film differently. Ramsey is an important character but the subplots that she has with her dysfunctional family weren’t fleshed out enough. It felt like a different movie.

The flashbacks were confusing with the way they were edited. There are a lot of small scenes in between the main storyline which set up Ramsey’s character but they don’t go anywhere. But, these scenes invest in Ramsey’s character, building up the audience for more.

I like the dialogue in this film. Dialogue between Scott and Kristin was written well, having a different argument, but it still revolves around the same topic. We are always observing people. Best Man Down is relatable. It’s a film about realizing mistakes and what we can do to fix them. We’ll figure it out.

There’s a lot of traveling throughout this movie. I love road trips. It’s the best time to bond. Sometimes we end up finding strangers to talk to. Each setting manifests darkness, even when it's light.

Best Man Down is a study of relationships. Ted Koland wrote about friendship but made crucial points. I liked the way he directed his actors, along with establishing their relationships. The characters feel like they’ve always known one another. Sometimes we don’t always know what’s going on in our best friends’ lives. Maybe that’s for better or worse.

What makes a person good? What makes them bad? Friends have a big impact on our lives no matter how long they’re around. Cherish moments with friends.

Best Man Down is a simple film but it’s so much more. It is an underrated romantic comedy. Despite its dark layers, this film is comical. Go find this film on Amazon Prime and watch it.