HONEY DON'T
Starring: Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, Charlie Day, and Chris Evans
Director: Ethan Coen
ADRIANO
In director/co-writer Ethan Coen's second lesbian crime B-movie, he might have lost the plot entirely. Despite a well-rounded and committed cast, Honey Don't! flip-flops through plot points, starting something interesting before pivoting to something else entirely, sometimes with little to no payoff, all in service of gags. In theory, this isn't an issue; it is a comedy after all. The problem? The gags are rarely ever funny. And as good as it looks, it's stylistically flat, especially compared to Drive-Away Dolls, making a film so forgettable that you can't help but hope Ethan will reunite with his brother soon.
NICK
Honey Don’t! is a step down from Drive Away Dolls in every way. While Margaret Qualley is fine as the lead, the story she’s given is a mess. The longer the film went, the more it became a parade of plot threads being introduced while others were dropped without justification. Even fleshed out ideas featured nonsensical and questionable character motivations or silly twists. It’s as if Ethan Coen and Trisha Cooke would write an idea, only to become distracted and abandon it. After this unfocused effort, I’m about done with this trilogy and ready for Ethan to find his way back to his brother Joel.
PAIGE
Honey Don't! is a pulpy, dry attempt at a comedic detective movie that is not only extremely dull but also quite a mess. It’s lacking that typical (Ethan) Coen-aesthetic we’re used to getting on the big screen, which is usually paired with sharp writing and character depth. Don’t get me wrong, the ensemble is great, really doing the best they can with what they are given. However, unfortunately, they just aren’t given much because the script is filled with blatant plot holes while lacking any sort of direction. Honestly, Honey Don’t! is a prime example of why the Coen Brothers need to reconnect and make another movie together.
