Honey Don't!

My View: Honey Don’t!  (2025)  R   Honey Don’t! is set in the small town of Bakersfield, California, where Honey O’Donahue (Margaret Qualley) works as a private detective. Honey met a local woman named Mia, who wanted to hire her, but Mia died in a mysterious car crash Honey thinks wasn’t an accident. Honey is about to dive into a mystery that could be dangerous. Honey Don’t! is another one of those films that I am going to tell you to go see, not because the film is good (which it isn’t), but because the lead is that good. Margaret Qualley gives a star power performance that overshadows a relatively weak plot that never finds its footing, and an ending that feels too easy to wrap everything up. Qualley is brilliant as the wise-cracking Honey, who walks into a room and everyone stops (including us, the film-going audience) to see what she is up to. Honey is the only character in the film that has any depth, as most of the plot revolves around a one-note preacher (Chris Evans) and a bunch of his henchmen (all of whom are idiots), who are involved in some sort of drug trade that never makes sense (like most of the film). The film is all show with very little substance, where even the opening credits are done a little too flashy and cute. I would love to see Honey O’Donahue tackle a more challenging case, with a storyline that offers a more satisfying resolution instead of an easy-to-predict ending. Watching Qualley was entertaining, but the film falters as soon as she leaves the screen. And note to Ethan Coen (co-writer and director), maybe pick a title that film critics won’t be able to use to discourage people from seeing the film.  My Rating: Cable  Honey Don't! Website  Now playing in theaters. 

Familyfaire:  Ne Zha II  (2025)  In Ne Zha II, the souls of Nezha and Aobing are the only things surviving a great catastrophe. To save them and give them new life, Taiyi Zhenren must turn to a mystical seven-colored lotus to rebuild their bodies and change their fate.This is a sequel to the first Ne Zha film, and based on my personal experience, if you haven’t seen that film, you will be as lost as I was in keeping straight what seems like 150 characters, all of whom seem to be related to each other. Even with a short primer from a fellow film critic (thanks, Matt Goldberg) before the film started, it took me about thirty minutes to figure out who was what and why they were about to go on a journey that takes forever to get going. I will say that the animation is stunning (we saw it in IMAX) and the action sequences are fun and adventurous, but the film doesn’t get going until after the first hour. The film is also a strange mix of very juvenile humor (lots of farting jokes) and some really harsh and horrifying scenes of mass killing and distraction. The characters are inspired by Chinese folklore, which contributed to this film becoming an enormous hit in China; in fact, it's the highest-grossing animated film of all time. After watching this nearly two-and-a-half-hour-long movie, I question how it achieved such success and whether it will resonate with American audiences, though I will say the mother and young son sitting below me had a great time. And by the way, because of the two bonus scenes (one during mid-credits and another after all the credits), there will be more adventures coming our way. My Rating; Bargain Matinee  Ne Zha II Website   Now playing in theaters including IMAX. 

My View: Eden  (2024) R   Eden tells the story of a small and diverse group of European settlers who arrive at Floreana Island in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, with the dream of living in paradise. However, they quickly realize that the biggest threat to their ideal life is not the harsh climate or dangerous wildlife, but rather the conflicts that arise among themselves.I think that some people might be shocked a bit that Ron Howard, director of Parenthood, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind, is the director of this film about people who play dirty tricks on each other that ends with death. I think this is a story that works better as a Vanity Fair story or a documentary (which it is, called The Galapagos Affair), where the events on that island remain shrouded in mystery. Instead, we get an amazing cast that tries hard to make the story move, but fails to bring the story to life. While it's entertaining for a time to watch Jude Law portray the eccentric doctor eager to write his manifesto, and Ana de Armas, who attempts to seduce any man or boy within her reach, the pacing of the film begins to drag. Once the violence starts, it feels abrupt and out of context. I would have preferred that Ron had left that up to our imagination. Or another writer/director.  My Rating:  Cable   Eden WebsiteNow playing in theaters. 

My View: The Map That Leads to You  (2025) PG-13  The Map That Leads to You is about Heather (Madelyn Cline), who is on an adventure of a lifetime across Europe. When she crosses paths with Jack (KJ Apa), Heather’s life is changed in ways she never expected. Despite the fantastic chemistry between Apa and Cline, this feels like one of those long commercial travelogues for the countries of Spain and Portugal. The scenery is gorgeous, and there are some great shots of some of the scenic cities of those countries, but we have to put up with long conversations (which feel like classroom lectures) about Hemingway and architecture. I lost interest in the film when the two get into a huge argument over whether selfies are self-indulgent or a way to express yourself to your friends. Based on a book by J.P. Monninger, the film is your typical romance with, of course, a secret that Jack is hiding. Will they find happiness in the end? By the time the film ended, I didn’t really care. I know only that I want to go to Spain, so the travelogue worked. My Rating: Cable  The Map That Leads To You Website  Now playing on Amazon Prime. 

Indiefest:  It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley  (2025)  It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley is a documentary on the legendary guitarist who died tragically after releasing his debut album, Grace. I didn’t know much about Jeff Buckley. Like most people today, I knew him as the singer of the Leonard Cohen song “Hallelujah” and little else. Documentary filmmaker Amy Berg (West of Memphis, Janis: Little Girl Blue) brings us an intimate and touching portrait of a man whose talent and life were cut short after only one album. Buckley had a special place in the hearts of many musicians, including Aimee Mann and Ben Harper—both of whom are interviewed in the film—as well as legends like Lou Reed and Robert Plant. The film uses extensive concert footage and behind-the-scenes footage of Buckley and his bandmates as he toured for almost 3 years straight after releasing his first album. We get incredible insights into the man due to interviews with his mom, who raised him by herself, and two of his girlfriends, artist Rebecca Moore and singer Joan Wasser. Buckley seemed to be haunted by his father, Tim Buckley, a recording artist who died at age 28 of a heroin overdose. Jeff barely knew his father, but his shadow seemed always to follow Jeff around as he became famous. While I am not a fan of Buckley’s music, as his singing style is all over the map, I enjoyed learning about a man who touched everyone he interacted with, and whose music continues to resonate with many today. If you see this film in the theater, know that there is a 15-minute concert film that immediately follows the closing credits. You can see just how talented this man was and how sad that he left us way too soon. My Rating: Full Price  It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley Website   Now playing in select theaters. 

My View:  Relay  (2024)  R  Relay follows Ash (Riz Ahmed), one of the world’s top “fixers” who specializes in facilitating payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who could expose them. To maintain his anonymity, Ash adheres to a strict set of rules. However, his life and career are at risk when Sarah (Lily James) arrives, seeking his help and protection. Riz Ahmed gives us another winning performance of a fixer who has a few problems, one of which is the lovely Sarah. She wants to give back a document, but the company has hired some goons (I see you, Sam Worthington) to harass her. Enter our hero, who inevitably starts falling for Sarah—after all, who could resist Lily James? I really enjoyed the first hour and a half, but it ultimately falls apart at the end, leading to a conclusion that isn't as clever as the protagonist. However, it’s fun up to that point, and once again, Ahmed proves he can lead a film with that effortless grace that he has on screen. I did enjoy the lady next to me at the theater who screamed a couple of times, indicating that not everyone in the audience figured out where the story was heading. Unfortunately, I did.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Relay Website  Now playing in theaters 

Sorry I Missed It (A film that I didn’t see in theatres but have seen recently):  K-Pop Demon Hunters  (2025) PG  In K-Pop Demon Hunters, pop superstars Rumi, Mira, and Zoey are accustomed to selling out stadiums around the world. However, what their adoring fans don’t realize is that, in addition to being a best-selling supergroup, they lead secret lives as fierce demon hunters. Together, they will confront their most dangerous adversary yet: a rival boy band comprised of demons in disguise.  I know of K-pop artists (how could you not if you are on social media sites?), but I don’t listen to any of that genre’s music, and I am certainly not the target audience. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed K-Pop Demon Hunters. It’s a fun animated film with an excellent soundtrack, and it’s no surprise that it has become a favorite on Netflix, in sing-along theaters, and on music streaming services. The animation is vivid and reminiscent of the Spider-Verse style of animation, where the visuals seem to go out on their own to make the film more exciting. The storyline is predictable but has enough action sequences and a few twists to keep the entire family interested. It’s the music that makes this film work, and I loved how most of the songs help tell the story, giving us insight into the characters. I can see why some of the songs have become hits on their own. I have a feeling we will see more from our favorite kick-butt demon-hunting singing trio, and for once, I am looking forward to seeing and hearing more. My Rating: Full Price K-Pop Demon Hunters Website  Now playing on the Netflix platform. 

Forgotten Film:  Requiem for a Dream   (2000) NC-17  This is the story of four people who are dealing with drug addiction. When we first see Sara (Ellen Burstyn), she is chaining her beloved TV to a radiator. Why? Because her son Harry (Jared Leto) is a drug addict who will sell anything to keep his habit going.  Not only does Harry have an addiction, but so does his girlfriend Marion (Jennifer Connelly) and his best friend Tyrone (Marlon Wayans). It’s a hard movie to watch, as even Sara becomes addicted to diet pills, which causes her to take more and more, all the while having hallucinations. Things get so bad that Marion, needing her and Harry’s next fix, starts selling herself to earn money. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the film employs quick cuts, extreme close-ups, and split screens to convey the experience of taking that first hit of a drug, followed by the disheartening realization that it will never be as fulfilling as that initial experience. While all performances are deeply affecting, Ellen Burstyn stands out as the mother at her breaking point, earning a Best Actress Academy Award nomination for her powerful depiction of a woman who falls into the same traps as her son. My Rating: Full Price  Requiem for a Dream Info  The film is available on many streaming platforms.

Weird Credits: From the credits of Honey Don’t!:  Dental Artist

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Caught Stealing  (2025)  R  In Caught Stealing, Hank (Austin Butler) is a burned-out ex-baseball player who barely survives by being a bartender. His neighbor has asked him to cat-sit, but what Hank doesn’t realize is that he is also unknowingly holding something that attracts the attention of every gangster in New York City, including a corrupt cop, the Russian mob, a Samoan hitman, and a pair of Jewish gangsters. The cast includes Bad Bunny, Zoë Kravitz, Carol Kane, Vincent D’Onofrio, Liev Schreiber, Matt Smith, and Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Mother!, The Whale), who directs the film.  Caught Stealing Website In theaters on Friday, August 29, 2025  

Until Next Time!