2024 the best man cast review

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(as of Nov 21, 2024 21:26:16 UTC - Details)

A hysterical phone call from Henry Archer’s ex-wife and a familiar face in a photograph upend his well-ordered life and bring him back into contact with the child he adored, a short-term stepdaughter from a misbegotten marriage long ago. Henry is a lawyer, an old-fashioned man, gay, successful, lonely. Thalia is now twenty-nine, an actress-hopeful, estranged from her newly widowed eccentric mother—Denise, Henry’s ex. Hoping it will lead to better things for her career, Thalia agrees to pose as the girlfriend of a horror-movie luminary who is down on his romantic luck. When Thalia and her complicated social life move into the basement of Henry’s Upper West Side townhouse, she finds a champion in her long-lost father, and he finds new life—and maybe even new love—in the commotion.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Paperbacks; Reprint edition (May 4, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 324 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 054733608X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0547336084
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.84 x 8 inches
Reviewer: gammyjill
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Another marvelous read...
Review: Elinor Lipman's latest is another in a long line of great comedy-of-manner novels she's written. Maybe not quite as good as Lake Divine and Dearly Departed, but almost at that level.There's something unique in Lipman's writing that I've tried to figure out in all ten of her novels. Her secondary characters are written as brilliantly as her main characters. I don't know how she does it - I guess that's why I'm a reader and not a writer - but maybe it's her wonderful dialogue. I'm left after reading her novels with the - unacted on, of course - urge to call her and ask her to write another novel, using the same characters, taking the storyline further. As all her novels are "stand-alones", it's clear she considers each one finished at the end.She is a worthy successor to the late Laurie Colwin.

Reviewer: Julie R.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Very entertaining
Review: Not previously familiar with this author, but thoroughly enjoyed the book. Very entertaining, light reading. Likable characters, witty dialogue and a special treat for New Yorkers.

Reviewer: Nate
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Do Not Miss This Novel!
Review: This was my third Lipman. I also met Elinor Lipman on the book tour for the first two books I Can’t Complain, a delicious book of essays, and The View from Penthouse B. To say we had a wonderful interaction is an understatement, she was SIMPLY DIVINE! The Family Man is a wonderful comic novel that keeps the reader tucked into bed or lounging on a couch even when one isn’t doing that. Instantly I fell for the character of Henry who is a (in my opinion) contented homosexual. I loved having a contented homosexual. His budding relationship with Todd made me swoon. The over the top characters of Denise and Thalia only made me love this book more. Elinor Lipman truly knows how to write a wild madcap comedy and make it wonderful and delicious and not mundane or lame.

Reviewer: Lilly Flora
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A charming book overall-but so very different from the Lipman I know and love
Review: Ever since my days of only reading books with pastel covers and subsequent introduction to Isabel's Bed I have been a die hard Elinor Lipman fan. I've read everything she's published, own them all and love them all. I can very safely say she's never written a book-much less a chapter-that I didn't like.When I started "The Family Man" though I thought that was all about to change. Lipman's normal writing style is very descriptive-lots of explained body language written into the text and historical background on characters and tons of detail about clothing, food and architecture. When you add in her slightly soap opera-ish plots with all of their melodrama and black humor you get these perfect, fun books with fast paced plots that aren't too serious and oodles of characters to fall in love with.But Lipman's latest book is different. For one thing, "The Family Man" is about ninety percent witty dialog (all well written) with very sparse descriptions of anything-including the characters emotions. And then there's the plot-the reuniting of retired gay lawyer Henry Archer with his once upon a time adopted daughter Thalia after her second adopted father's death 24 years after he gave up a custody battle that had him painted as unfit because of his sexuality-and the subsequent changes in his love life and general happiness and interest level afterward. I know it sounds complicated but it's really, really not. This is a very simple book. The writing style is simple, the plot (which is barely even there, it's more of a gradual progression of events with a total lack of conflict) is simple and while the book does come off as rather charming it's almost a compete 180 from Lipman's other books. The whole thing kind of has the feel of a novella too it (think "Shopgirl" with less emotional depth and poignancy) including the length. Despite its deceptive 300 page total this is a very small book with large text and huge margins.There's nothing really bad about this novel, but it really was not what I expected from Lipman. It's true that I've always enjoyed her books written in first person better than those written in third (and this one is in third) but that's not even really the issue. This book just reads like a different author altogether wrote it. As it stands on its own it's a cute, charming little book with a lot of snappy talk too it that I did enjoy but it doesn't really compare to Isabel's Bed,The Inn at Lake Devine or The Pursuit of Alice Thrift.If I'd never read anything else by Lipman I'd say four stars, but with my experience of her other novels I have to admit to being disappointed by this one with its lack of detail and emotional characterization.Three stars. I'd wait for the paperback version folks, or get this one from the library before committing to buy.

Reviewer: Lisa Mack
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Gentle and sweet
Review: An intriguing story line, a cast of main characters who are fleshed out and real, a few simple, quirky characters for interest: all added up to a delightful, gentle story that ended happily, despite the twists and turns along the way.

Reviewer: Rin Citron
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A heart-warming story filled with engaging characters
Review: I loved this book from its first pages. The main character, a gay man who only came to terms with his sexuality after a failed marriage during which he'd adopted his wife's daughter after her first husband died, is completely endearing and engaging. I really wanted to keep reading and find out what happens as he tries to re-connect with this "daughter" after losing parental rights when he came out and his ex-wife remarried. The plot may not be completely plausible, but the characters are so believable that it really doesn't matter. A delightful story about charming people.

Reviewer: F. Wilson
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Very Enjoyable Book
Review: I enjoy Elinor Lipman's writing. Her Inn at Lake Devine is one of my favorites. The Family Man is a sweet book about a father who connects with a stepdaughter after she is grown. It is just a sweet, tender book. One to read when one is down and just wants a good story to remind them of the goodness of others.

Reviewer: Betsy A.
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Fun read.
Review: Original story, not written according to a formula. Well, developed, fun characters and relationships. An easy read that I could put down and pick up when I had time.

Reviewer: Philippe A Bruneau
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Elinor Lipman comes the closest to expressing the modern version of an Austen novel. Life on these pages is amusing, riveting, delightful and precise. She looks at our world and reflects subtly on a small view in each book. All of her novels together are truly one of the most enjoyable and restful feasts a mind can savour.

Reviewer: cathy
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A story of the making of family. Very witty repartee and funny. Characters are quirky but likeable. Storyline is outrageous

Reviewer: Una, UK
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Elinor Lipman is always a pleasure to read. This is not her best - the Ladies' Man was my favourite - but still witty and amusing.

Reviewer: hextol
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: love her work usually but found this quite hard work to get through. Henry is is wonderful but Thalia is distinctly irritating and should have been advised to grow up quite some time ago. missing the sparlking wit that is usually a feature of her books - this was much duller and never came alive for me