I wrote about it back in October 2011 when the news first broke that one of my fave movies, The Best Manis about to get a sequel.
After the initial burst of excitement from fans of the movie like myself, hearing that Malcolm D. Lee would be writing and directing it, and hearing the entire cast wanted to reprise their roles, all we were waiting for was the date we would need to be at the multiplex for its premiere.
Seemed like that would be a no brainer decision to greenlight it since the original movie grossed $35 million, it has a huge fanbase, and a cast made up of Taye Diggs, Nia Long, Sanaa Lathan, Terrence Howard, Morris Chestnut, Monica Calhoun, Harold Perrineau and Melissa De Souza we all want to see in some new situations post that wedding weekend.
Well, the film has finally been greenlighted by Universal and the untitled Best Man 2 sequel will be at your local multiplex on November 15, 2013.
So yeah, we'll finally get to find out what happened to Mia, Lance, Jordan, Harper, Robin, Murch, Quentin and the woman they all loathed, Shelby.
As of yet no details on the basic story or trailers have been released, but you know when that finally happens I'll post that info here on the blog.
While I have not had much success in the romance department, I am a romantic at heart and love reading Kayla Perrin's romance novels I also have a few favorite Black romance movies that I watch at regular intervals that yes, have me sniffling at their conclusion.
With Cars 2 having a more international theme and storyline, I found interesting the new characters that will pop up in the upcoming film.
In addition to Team Lightning McQueen getting to experience the hospitality of Luigi's hometown when the World Grand Prix's second race takes place in Italy, action takes place in Japan and England as well.
The movie makes its British debut on July 22, and there will be more than a few familiar characters, voices and a home country feel for British audiences to enjoy.
In addition to seeing iconic vehicles like London bus Topper Deckington III, London cab Chauncy Fares, and Sgt. Highgate it was interesting to note that Queen Elizabeth II was immortalized in the film along with the just married Prince William.
Character Art Director Jay Shuster was well aware of the tricky task of respectfully depicting a national sovereign for this movie
.
Specifically with The Queen’s design it took some careful stepping as
we, of course, were on hallowed ground emulating a nation’s sovereign as
a car. The Queen’s design in our film is inspired by the elegant lines
and paint schemes of British car designs of the finest vintage.
In addition to the Royal Family representatives, British Formula 1 champion driver Lewis Hamilton is one of the racers in this film.
I thought (and my Formula 1 loving friend will probably agree with me) it should have been as a Formula 1 race car to be a stickler for authenticity, but the Hamilton character as one of the World Grand Prix racers in this movie still looks cool and better yet, he'll be doing the voiceover for it..
And yes, the British theme of this movie wouldn't be complete without me mentioning the Sir Michael Caine voiced British intelligence agents Finn McMissile, his sidekick Siddley and agent Holley Shiftwell.
Think I need to reconsider eating buttered popcorn when i go see this one and get fish and chips instead..
I fell in love with and added to my expansive DVD collection the 2006 Pixar movie Cars. I loved the backstory with hotshot rookie racecar Lightning McQueen being stuck in the small town of Radiator Springs located a few miles off I-40 on old Route 66. He was on his way to California and the Piston Cup championship race before he got sidetracked. He discovers during his time there not only the values of friendship and teamwork, but that life in the slow lane can be enjoyable at times.
Cars 2 picks up in Carburetor County a few years later after Mack has just dropped McQueen off in Radiator Springs after winning his fourth Piston Cup title. He's now an internationally known racecar, is still dating Sally Carrera and still tight with Mater and the denizens of Radiator Springs. The invitation comes for him to participate in a three race World Grand Prix race series set up by a billionaire to showcase a new organic fuel he's promoting.
Mater convinces Lightning to enter despite the fact he just finished his Piston Cup schedule and was looking forward to spending some off season quality time with Sally. She encourages 'Stickers' to go and take Mater with him.
Team Lightning McQueen sets off for the first race in Japan while master American spy Rod 'Torque' Redline is investigating an international conspiracy centered on the World Grand Prix. The fun begins when Redline, closely tailed by Professor Z's henchcars has to dump his gathered intel on Mater, the first person he runs into at the reception for the World Grand Prix racers.
He had arranged to meet British superspy Finn McMissile to exchange the data at the party. It leads to Mater being mistaken by British intelligence for Redline, and unknowingly for Mater puts his life in jeopardy as well. .
Many of the voice actors from Cars are back for this sequel except for the late George Carlin (who was the voice of the hippy van Fillmore) , the late Paul Newman, who voiced Doc Hudson, and the late Joe Ranft who was Red and Peterbilt.
The Doc Hudson character wasn't in this movie, but Fillmore will be with a new voice actor.
There's also some interesting new characters in the Cars 2 story such as British agent Finn McMissile, voiced by Michael Caine, Holley Shiftwell, Prince Wheeliam and Queen Elizabeth II, Brent Mustangberger, Max Schnell, Francesco and one I'm sure my F1 loving homegirl in Louisville will love, her favorite F1 racer Lewis Hamilton.
Cars 2 is hitting the theaters June 24 next month and I'm definitely going to see this one.
