The Best Man

The Best Man

Year: 2005

Runtime: 96 mins

Language: English

Director: Stefan Schwartz

ComedyRomance

Olly Pickering’s writing career stalls under a bout of writer’s block, forcing him to crash at his friend Murray’s flat after losing his savings. When his college mate James asks Olly to be best man, Olly meets Sarah, whom he first assumes is the bride’s sister. Discovering she’s actually the bride, he hopes Murray—who isn’t fond of James—can help unite them.

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Timeline & Setting – The Best Man (2005)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Best Man (2005). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

London, Trafalgar Square, Selfridges

The story unfolds around central London locations. Trafalgar Square provides a chaotic backdrop for Olly's misadventures, while Selfridges serves as a hub for plotting wedding plans and social encounters. The city’s social scene frames the comedy and relational tensions that drive the narrative.

🏙️ London 🗺️ City life 💍 Wedding culture

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:20

Main Characters – The Best Man (2005)

Meet the key characters of The Best Man (2005), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Olly Pickering (Stuart Townsend)

A childhood friend who tries his luck as a writer and ends up navigating love and social awkwardness. He experiences writer's block after a cash windfall and becomes Olly's assistant to Dana's self-help publishing world, ultimately entangled in James and Sarah's wedding drama while seeking to prove himself in love.

💘 Romantic 😅 Awkward 🧠 Ambitious

Murray (Seth Green)

Olly's friend who plays puppet-master, scheming to derail the wedding. He uses manipulation and schemes to influence Sarah and undermine James, masking his actions with a veneer of mischief.

🕵️‍♂️ Cunning 😈 Manipulative 🎭 Entertaining

James (Tom Ellis)

The groom whose outward charm conceals a more calculating desire for status and wealth. He starts the wedding with ambitious plans and becomes entangled in infidelity that threatens the relationship.

💼 Charismatic 😏 Calculating 🗺️ Social climber

Dana (Anna Chancellor)

An editor who hires Olly and later fires him. She is professional and wary of Olly's personal drama, while pursuing her own romantic connection with Graham.

💼 Professional 🧭 Pragmatic 💬 Witty

Sarah Marie Barker (Amy Smart)

James's girlfriend and the wedding's intended bride who unexpectedly falls for Olly. She is decisive and emotionally driven, ultimately canceling the wedding after discovering the truth.

💖 Independent 😌 Love seeker 🎯 Decisive

Becka (Kate Ashfield)

Owner of Olly's trousers and a practical voice in the plot. She helps unravel the deception and ultimately solidifies Olly's relationship with Sarah.

🧵 Practical 📣 Direct 🤝 Loyal

Graham (David Oyelowo)

A barrister who interacts with Dana and provides the moral counterpoint in the group. He navigates the social web of the wedding and dating dynamics.

⚖️ Respectful 🗣️ Persuasive 🧭 Dependable

Harry (Stewart Wright)

Part of the pub discussions about the wedding, offering commentary on the unfolding drama and the plans to cancel the wedding.

🏷️ Social 🍻 Outspoken 🤔 Observant

Tania (Jodhi May)

A friend who is part of the social circle and appears in key conversations around the wedding's dynamics and plans.

👗 Fashionable 🗣️ Opinionated 🧭 Loyal

Stan (Martin Hancock)

Owner of a porn shop who becomes part of the web of mischief and further complicates the plot with unexpected appearances.

🛍️ Quirky 🕳️ Underworld connection 🗺️ Connected

Mr. Barker (Philip Jackson)

Family figure associated with the Barker clan, providing social context and expectations around relationships and status.

👔 Traditional 🧭 Authority 🕰️ Respectful

Vicar (Richard Durden)

Religious figure involved in the wedding and its social fabric, adding formal constraint to the romantic chaos.

⛪ Formal 🗣️ Ceremonial 🕊️ Calm

Bride (Akiya Henry)

Symbol of the wedding ceremony around which the social circle revolves; her role is central to the nuptial event.

👰 Central 💬 Social role 🧩 Key

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:20

Major Themes – The Best Man (2005)

Explore the central themes of The Best Man (2005), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💘 Romance

A love triangle emerges as Olly falls for Sarah while James pursues marriage for status. The film examines how attraction can collide with loyalty and social expectations, steering characters toward dramatic choices.

🎭 Deception

Murray orchestrates a series of lies and misdirections to sabotage the wedding, testing trust among friends and lovers. Characters manipulate perceptions to control outcomes, revealing the fragility of truth in close relationships.

🎉 Wedding & Social Rituals

The wedding becomes a focal event that exposes hidden motives and social pressures. Parties, stag events, and social gatherings highlight how appearances shape decisions and alter friendships and romance.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 12:20

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The Best Man Summary

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