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Movies / On DVD / Honey
Honey

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Honey (2003)

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Reviews Counted:29

Fresh:5

Rotten:24

Average Rating:4.1/10

Consensus: An attractive Jessica Alba and energetic dance numbers provide some lift to this corny and formulaic movie.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for drug content and some sexual references

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Dec 5, 2003 Wide

Box Office: $30,222,640

Synopsis: Honey Daniels (JESSICA ALBA, of television's Dark Angel) has been waiting all her life to show the world her dance moves and now, everything she ever wanted is just a step away. For years, her... Honey Daniels (JESSICA ALBA, of television's Dark Angel) has been waiting all her life to show the world her dance moves and now, everything she ever wanted is just a step away. For years, her spirit and her ambition have given the dancer and aspiring choreographer the guts to move ahead, even when those who love her best have doubts about her possible success in such a tough field. Not content with her parents' world of safe choices that promise a secure future, Honey has moved to the heart of the city, where the streets are a barrage of sound, energy and music—and it's the music she's after. Living there is difficult, but she is willing to take it all in stride while she continues to struggle with making ends meet—her dream is worth it. During the day, she shares that dream by teaching hip-hop classes in a local center to the kids in her neighborhood. At night, watching the clock until her bartending shift ends, Honey comes alive on the dance club floor, where her training collides with her passion and her smooth moves get her noticed. And then her one-time-in-a-million break comes in the form of a video director, who sees Honey in the club and offers her a chance at a spot as a back-up dancer. From there, her true ability shines through, and she begins to finally live her dream—choreographing for some of the hottest acts in hip-hop and R&B (Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, Jadakiss & Sheek, Tweet) and for Honey, it feels too good to be true. And almost as quickly as it arrives, the dream starts to dissolve. Back in the workaday world, Honey returns to what she knows best—the urban music she loves—and rediscovers her love of dancing though the exuberant energy of a group of neighborhood kids. A high-energy drama with music, Honey also stars LIL' ROMEO, winner of the 2001 Billboard Music Award for “Rap Artist of the Year,” as Benny, a kid who needs a break even more than Honey does. MEKHI PHIFER (8 Mile) portrays Chaz, Honey's boyfriend with no angle to work—he's the constant, the real thing, the down-to-earth voice of reason who just wants Honey happy and in his life. JOY BRYANT (Antwone Fisher) plays Honey's protective, best friend Gina, who views her pal's newfound success with equal parts excitement and skepticism. The young, vibrant cast also includes DAVID MOSCOW (Just Married), ZACHARY ISAIAH WILLIAMS (TV's Romeo!) and LONETTE MCKEE (He Got Game), with cameo appearances by hip-hop/R&B stars MISSY ELLIOTT, GINUWINE, 3rd STOREE, SHAWN DESMAN, TWEET, and JADAKISS & SHEEK. BILLE WOODRUFF, who has directed music videos for stars including Usher, Britney Spears and Toni Braxton, debuts as a feature film director with this multi-ethnic contemporary urban drama energized by music and propelled by dance. The film is written by ALONZO BROWN & KIM WATSON. Veteran filmmaker MARC PLATT (Legally Blonde) and music mogul ANDRE HARRELL (Strictly Business) serve as producers, with BILLY HIGGINS (Simon Burch) executive producing. The film's exciting soundtrack includes a diverse lineup of some of the best R&B, hip-hop and urban music superstars working in music today. New songs from Missy Elliott, Fabolous, Tweet, Yolanda Adams, Knocturnal, Amerie and Nate Dogg are just a few of the musical offerings, with additional contributions from Sean Paul, Blaque featuring Chingy, Lil'Mo, Mark Ronson and Jadakiss & Sheek. The creative team behind the scenes includes director of photography JOHN R. LEONETTI (The Scorpion King); production designer JASNA STEFANOVICH (Josie and the Pussycats); editors MARK HELFRICH, A.C.E. (Red Dragon) and EMMA E. HICKOX, A.C.E. (A Walk to Remember); costume designer SUSAN MATHESON (Blue Crush); composer MARVYN WARREN (The Wedding Planner); and entertainment industry choreographer LAURIEANN GIBSON. All of the songs in Honey are original compositions by songwriter/producer RODNEY JERKINS, who has created hits for artists including Britney Spears, Toni Braxton, Brandy, Monica, Mary J. Blige and Jennifer Lopez. -- © Universal Pictures [More]

Starring: Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Lil' Romeo, Joy Bryant

Starring: Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Lil' Romeo, Joy Bryant, Lonette McKee, David Moscow, Zack Williams

Director: Bille Woodruff

Director: Bille Woodruff
Producer: Marc Platt, Andre Harrell
Composer: Rodney Jerkins
Studio: Universal Pictures

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Release:

Jun 14, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Single Side - Dual Layer

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - French
  • Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - Spanish

Additional Release Material:

  • Outtakes
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Audio Commentary: "The Inside Scoop" with Jessica Alba - Star, and Billie Woodruff - Director

Featurette:

  • 1. "Behind the Groove: The Making of HONEY"
  • 2. "Make Your Move: Dance like HONEY!"
  • 3. "In the Mix with Blaque: Go Behind the Scenes with Blaque's Music Video"
  • 4. "I'm Good" - Music Video by Blaque
  • 5. "J-A-D-A" - Music Video by Jadakiss & Sheek
  • 6. "Sexy" - Music Video by Shawn Desman

Text/Photo Galleries:

  • "Cast and Filmmakers"
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Honey

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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The girl's gotta dance -- and meets little resistance -- in this hip-hop take on an age-old theme.

Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
12/09/03
Sheri Linden
Sheri Linden
Hollywood Reporter
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The star-is-born trajectory nourishes some howlers ... as well as a thumpingly unsubtle portrayal of the creative process.

Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
12/09/03
Ed Park
Ed Park
Village Voice
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's so predictable.

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
12/08/03
Richard Roeper
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There's an entertainingly ludicrous movie lurking somewhere inside of the ludicrous, mediocre one this actually is.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
12/06/03
Charles Taylor
Charles Taylor
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey's a little too darling for reality.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
12/05/03
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Evokes a warmed-over Fox TV special.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
12/05/03
Ann Hornaday
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Flavorless blender-mix of dance movie cliches draws from the stagnant well of everything from Flashdance to Save the Last Dance.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
12/05/03
David Rooney
David Rooney
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Cheerful, unlikely and featherweight, Honey is nevertheless charmingly optimistic and refreshingly earnest.

Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
12/05/03
Geoff Pevere
Geoff Pevere
Toronto Star
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey invites us, not to share in a character's journey, but to have an audience with one young woman's physical and spiritual loveliness. That's not just bogus, it's boring.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
12/05/03
Mick LaSalle
Mick LaSalle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey is a whole festival of bad movies, from Flashdance through Glitter.

Full Review Source: Newark Star-Ledger | comment Comment
12/05/03
Bob Campbell
Bob Campbell
Newark Star-Ledger
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A disjointed, unmoving affair.

Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
12/05/03
Eric Harrison
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey is basically a hip-hop Flashdance by way of Save the Last Dance, but those who are able to climb over the cliches and step up to the beat will find it an organically sweet treat.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
12/05/03
Terry Lawson
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Neither hot nor square, it's as simple and earnest as any after-school special and as cameo-laden as any rap video.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
12/05/03
Wesley Morris
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey is a by-the- numbers, let's-put- on-a-show quasi-musical that has absolutely nothing going for it, except Alba.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
12/05/03
Jack Mathews
Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Its by-the- numbers plot is depressingly familiar, and each line of dialogue is so predictable that the script could have been generated by a computer.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
12/05/03
Jonathan Foreman
Jonathan Foreman
New York Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey passes the time nicely up to that last dance and doesn't trip when it gets there.

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
12/05/03
Michael Booth
Michael Booth
Denver Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Nothing about the movie feels fresh or new or energized, which would have at least helped excuse the cliches. Instead, it just wallows in them, all to a throbbing hip-hop score.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
12/05/03
Randy Cordova
Randy Cordova
Arizona Republic
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Overproduced and underwhelming.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
12/05/03
Rick Groen
Rick Groen
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Honey doesn't have a shred of originality (except for the high-energy choreography), but there's something fundamentally reassuring about a movie that respects ancient formulas; it's like a landmark preservation program.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
12/05/03
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As sweet and undemanding as its name, Honey goes down smooth and simple.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
12/04/03
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
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