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Movies / On DVD / Honey
Honey

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Honey (2003)

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Reviews Counted:111

Fresh:22

Rotten:89

Average Rating:4.1/10

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

Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Genre: Dramas

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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Reviews for Honey

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
10/18/08
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is fairy tale stuff, its saintly hip-hop heroine far too worthy for comfort and its dialogue hilariously banal.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A preposterously transparent attempt to market hip-hop in as anodyne a way as possible, but -- for its target audience of pre-teenage girls -- it works.

Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
03/21/04
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]

Not nearly as good as Britney Spears' cheese-fest Crossroads...

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
03/16/04
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Occasionally preachy and always predictable, it's nevertheless executed with efficiency and a little charm.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
03/16/04
Nev Pierce
Nev Pierce
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The plot is pure fluff, with a script structured in such a way that you never doubt anything for a second (and you never believe anything either).

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
01/23/04
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
11/20/08
Guylaine Cadorette
Guylaine Cadorette
Hollywood.com
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Oooh boy, whoever greenlit this baby is going to have some explaining to do.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
04/02/05
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

Alba’s quite easy on the eye, and admittedly, a bit of a star in the making.

Full Review Source: Moviehole | comment Comment
06/05/04
Clint Morris
Clint Morris
Moviehole

What does Honey do in the face of dilemma? Come see this touching film to find out.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Spectrum | comment Comment
05/26/04
Vince Koehler
Vince Koehler
Entertainment Spectrum

Some dazzling acrobatic dance moves, but the story is pretty lame. The DVD, however, with quality extras, rates a B.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
05/06/04
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

No work of genius, but unexpectedly endearing.

Full Review Source: Movie Gazette | comment Comment
03/16/04
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Movie Gazette

Honey has an earnestness that’s hard to ignore, but easy to dislike.

Full Review Source: FilmJerk.com | comment Comment
03/16/04
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
FilmJerk.com

The only highlight is Missy Elliott doing a cameo, as herself.

Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
02/24/04
Susan Granger
Susan Granger
Modamag.com

The story is a bit cliché, but it bristles with energy and positivism.

Full Review Source: Latino Review | comment Comment
01/06/04
Julian Roman
Julian Roman
Latino Review

Sparkling but slight glimpse into the lives of the lusty female dancers of the music video world.

Full Review Source: Long Island Press | comment Comment
12/31/03
Prairie Miller
Prairie Miller
Long Island Press

With enough plots for half a dozen movies, Honey is less a story than a commercial for the soundtrack CD.

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment 1 Comment
12/31/03
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Flawless beauty aside, Miss Alba never seems like the Everywoman she needs to be in order for Honey to click.

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
12/30/03
Christian Toto
Christian Toto
Washington Times

Sweet and syrupy, "Honey" is a movie you've probably seen before.

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
12/21/03
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Honey

June 14, 2006: Missy Elliott: The Movie
I think there should be a law passed that says the following: You're not allowed to get your own biopic made until: A) You're over 50 years old, and/or B) You've actually done... More...

September 29, 2005: Critical Consensus: "Blue" Sinks, "Violence" Kills, "Serenity" Soars
This week at the movies, we have sexy divers ("Into the Blue"), secretive family men ("A History of Violence"), space renegades ("Serenity"),... More...

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