‘Honey Don’t!’ Review: Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans Get Stranded in Ethan Coen’s Wayward Whodunit

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In the new movie titled “Honey Don’t!“, Ethan Coen and Tricia Cooke’s planned third installment of their lesbian B-movie series, Margaret Qualley portrays Honey O’Donahue – a hard-nosed yet stylish private investigator in Bakersfield, California. Usually dealing with infidelity cases involving questionable spouses and unfaithful partners, this film sees Honey tackling a more complex mystery. The movie opens with the death of a local resident, which sets Honey on a dangerous journey filled with religious cults, power-hungry preachers, and an unexpected love story. The movie had its premiere at Cannes and is set to be released in cinemas by Focus Features on Aug 22.

Primarily, the movie “Honey Don’t!” shares a similar thematic backdrop with Coen’s initial solo narrative project, “Drive-Away Dolls“, where the director collaborated with Cooke on the script. In “Drive-Away Dolls“, Qualley portrayed a charismatic lesbian, who, following a bitter separation from her police officer girlfriend (Beanie Feldstein), embarks on a cross-country trip with her closest friend (played by Geraldine Viswanathan). However, their journey along the highways takes an unexpected turn when they discover that their rental car holds items crucial to a sinister plot. Consequently, the duo spends much of the suspenseful road film evading a pair of menacing characters. While the amusing heist serves as the main plot, it overshadows a tender love story that regrettably lacks substantial emotional weight.

As a fan, I’d say that I found “Honey Don’t!” more captivating than “Drive-Away Dolls” due to its intriguing whodunit storyline. However, it shares the same pitfall as its predecessor – it seems more like a collection of comedic gags without a clear direction or resolution.

Previously, Coen and Cooke have stated that their collaborative film projects aim to cater to an often overlooked audience segment, referring to it as a niche market. Their ambition is to highlight queer characters in the bold genre films they appreciate, a commendable endeavor also pursued by filmmakers such as Emma Seligman (Bottoms), Annapurna Sriram (F*cktoys) and Rose Glass (Love Lies Bleeding). However, even the crudest comedy requires a solid narrative foundation to keep viewers engaged. Honey Don’t! initially provides this, but unfortunately loses audience sympathy in a disappointing third act that provokes more annoyance than laughter.

In this movie, it’s the acting and certain aspects of its setting that truly shine. Qualley excels in playing the part of a cynical, tough-as-nails detective, striding through town in her heels, compared to her less convincing portrayal of an isolated lesbian character with a bothersome Southern accent. Aubrey Plaza is perfectly cast as MG Falcone, a cold and detached love interest who’s a cop at the local station. Chris Evans fits seamlessly into the part of Drew Devlin, a seductive cult leader with religious leanings.

Additionally, the series features a group of robust secondary characters, such as Josh Pafcheck playing Drew’s assistant Shuggie, and Gabby Beans portraying Spider, Honey’s assistant. Their performances inject genuine humor into their roles. Furthermore, kudos to Peggy Schnitzer for her outstanding costume design that not only strengthens but also differentiates each character within this small town’s extraordinary environment. For instance, she designed Honey’s stylish pantsuits and Spider’s attention-grabbing blouses.

In the aftermath of a tragic car accident, we encounter Honey alongside Marty Metakawitch, a detective from the police department, examining the wreckage. The victim is identified as Mia, but despite appearances suggesting an accident, Honey harbors doubts. Rather than collaborating with the private investigator, Marty indulges in flirting with Honey, which becomes a repetitive motif in the movie that soon loses its charm. One persistent theme in the story is Marty’s reluctance to acknowledge Honey as a lesbian. Meanwhile, Honey develops a romantic relationship with MG, another officer at the precinct, and assists her teenage niece in escaping an abusive situation. This narrative unfolds against the backdrop of their investigation into Mia’s death.

Beyond the private affairs of Honey, intriguing aspects of a world resembling a cult come to light. Drew, who serves as a pastor in a church promoting prosperity gospel, becomes aware that probes regarding the car accident might reveal the extent of his hidden deceit to the authorities.

In this part of “Honey Don’t!”, the plot starts to wobble, exposing its reliance on comedic stunts alone. The story hints at a clandestine drug operation managed by a French criminal syndicate, symbolized by an enigmatic French woman (Lera Abova) who navigates Bakersfield on her Vespa. As the count of deceased individuals in Bakersfield increases, Honey gradually comprehends their link to the peculiar church that exploits emotionally fragile individuals, particularly young women. You may be curious about the nature of this scheme and how Drew’s church, under the control of a pompous pastor, intertwines with it all; however, Coen and Cooke provide only enough details to set up the next joke rather than delving deeper into the plot.

An intriguing aspect that often goes unnoticed is the dynamic between Honey and MG. This lesbian duo maintains an emotionally detached bond, yet they seem to bring out the best and worst in each other. The narrative offers a blend of passionate and sentimental scenes, reminiscent of Jamie and Marian from Drive-Away Dolls. However, like their counterparts, there’s a lingering feeling of unresolved emotions that intensifies as the relationship delves into darker, more complex territories.

Qualley and Plaza put a lot of effort into bringing their characters to life, and Plaza, in particular, manages to make a significant impact in a rather slim role. They both deliver some witty lines, and there are attempts to add depth to each character through various plot points. However, Honey Don’t! is a movie that seems more preoccupied with its own amusement than with allowing viewers to share the fun.

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2025-05-24 02:54