Wikipedia says that “Honey” was Jessica Alba’s breakout role. Let me tell you what she did immediately after this role. 2005’s “Fantastic Four.” Let that sink in. Either way, ‘”Honey” became somewhat of a cult classic. It was one of the first movies I can recall where there were a bevy of fresh hip-hop and R&B faces that I knew and loved. I watched this movie with my best friend the other night after watching “Honey: Rise Up and Dance, which is the fourth installment in this franchise. (Yes, this became a makeshift franchise.)
Any who, let’s review “Honey.” Honey Daniels is a community dance instructor. She is also a bartender and works at a record shop, and occasionally, keeps the kids she teaches out of trouble. Her mom believes Honey can do so much more with her dance background. Reminds me of Dorothy’s aunt in “The Wiz” who urged Dorothy to go beyond what she could see in front of her. In Dorothy’s situation, she was scared of the world. In Honey’s situation, she sees more in the community and her kids than her mom can. In walks Micheal Ellis, famed music producer. Here’s what I never understood during this movie. How was a music producer able to have so much control over the artist’s music video? Did I miss something? I thought they just curated the album, but Billie Woodruff directed the film and is a famed music video director. I trust him to know more than I do. Anyway, Ellis spots Honey at the nightclub she works in and is offered a job to dance in Jadakiss’ new music video. It is here where she sets her morals so we, the audience, understand the integrity she has. She firmly states that she will not be taking her clothes off to get ahead. This comes around again later. Obviously, she takes off a dancer and choreographer, but at what cost is the magical question we explore throughout the rest of the movie.
I want to go off on a small tangent here so I can talk about my favorite video vixen, Melyssa Ford. I remember Ford telling a story about being on the set of the “Knock Yourself Out” video with Jadakiss. She says she came in HOT! She laid down all her rules as soon as she saw Jada. When she finished, Jada let her know that he wasn’t going to do anything that made her uncomfortable. Basically saying, her speak wasn’t really needed because he wasn’t that type of man. He was going to be respectful of her even though she was the “object of affection” on set. Going back to the movie, we see that who we assumed would be the terrible people were actually how Jadakiss was to Ford in real life. Honey never had a problem with the artists. It was Michael who eventually tried to take advantage of her. You may be saying, “How could Honey not see what Michael was trying to do?” Honey wasn’t in the industry, and for all she knew, this was how business worked in the music industry. The music industry, as we see nowadays, is really the wild west. The fact that Honey was able to be the same person she was when we started the film until the end of the film was key to us liking this film. I think we remember this film, not just because of the stars and the dancing (which we will not talk about here), but because of the heart Jessica Alba as Honey brought to this film.
With that being said, I have a few suggestions now that I’ve rewatched this movie after a billion years. I wanted more Joy Bryant. Bryant played Gina, Honey’s best friend, and I loved her and Alba on screen together. We spent so much time on things we could have cut out, honestly. We saw her parents but it wasn’t as impactful for me I think they wanted it to be. Although I love Mekhi Phifer, I didn’t need him either. What started off as a cute love story within the film, which honestly the love story is between Honey and her kids but I’ll get there, turned into a connivence for the end of the movie. I didn’t like that. If he was there to be a love interest, let him be that. Once he called a friend to help her get the building to put on the show, it felt like that was the only reason he was there. You could have written it so Honey found the building on her own. Her dad, Gina, or even one of the kids could have also helped her. Here’s a real twist. One of the drug dealers could have admired the fact that she was doing something good for the community and wanted to lend their hand without her telling anyone. I would have loved that ending instead of Chaz, Phifer, making a call.
Also, screenwriters, you threw in Laurie Ann Gibson as a rival, but I only saw her in the club and later at Ginuwine’s video. Two times seeing a person does not a villain make. That could have been played up more. Let Katrina, Gibson, pop up at one of those auditions Honey was always going to. Let her decide she also wants to open her own dance studio. Do something more with her! I wanted more from her!
I want to leave you with my favorite part of the movie, and the only thing I really remember from this film. Missy Misdemeanor Elliott imitating Katrina as she does some slinky movies in front of a woman who is not known to do slinky moves. This is an example of knowing your audience that did not go over well with Michael and Katrina.
After this rewatch, “Honey” wasn’t a bad film. I will not comment on the choreography because it was the 2000’s. Have you seen yourself in the 2000’s? Exactly. We watch and we don’t judge because that was us in our living room floor trying to do these exact moves while we watched this movie. Like I said, I think what sticks here is the heart and the love that was shown to the community. Honey’s unwavering love for those kids is what made this movie. Now, all the other Honey’s…..I cannot say the same for those, but this one, worth a rewatch.
Tell me, what do you remember from this movie before you rewatch it?
