HONEY

MPAA Rating: PG-13

for drug content and some sexual references

Moral Rating:

_____

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Moviemaking Quality:

Primary Audience:

Teens and Adults

Genre:

Drama

Length:

1 hr. 44 min.

Starring: Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Joy Bryant, L'il Romeo, Lil' Romeo | Directed by: Bille Woodruff | Produced by: Marc Platt, Andre Harrell | Distributor: Universal Pictures

Producer’s synopsis: This is the story of Honey (Alba), “a tough sexy dancer from the inner city, who becomes a successful music video choreographer, a career which is threatened when her mentor makes her either sleep with him… or get blacklisted within the industry. She ultimately decides to pursue her lifelong dream of opening her own dance studio for inner-city youths.”

Year of Release—2003

Positive—This movie was fantastic! I recommend it to any teenager and above! You should definitely spend your money to see this film. It may have some sexual references and drug contact, but it is very good!
My Ratings: [Better than Average/5]
—Carolyn, age 31

Comments from young people

Positive—Well, the dancing was embarrassing, although the actors are very talented dancers. Most of the dancing is very sexually focused. However, the story and everything else about the movie was great! It isn’t one of my favorites, but it’s pretty good.
My Ratings: [Average/4]
—Beth, age 17

Positive—This movie was great! It had a few objectionable things but overall pretty clean. Some dance moves were iffy, but pretty good. Also there were drugs in it, just like about every other movie now a days. But it wasn’t too objectionable. GO SEE IT!!
My Ratings: [Better than Average/4]
—Rachel, age 17

Positive—I loved this movie, but I can see how it could be offensive. Some comments and dancing is objectionable, but overall this movie has a good message about getting children off of the streets and away from bad things (such as drugs). Honestly, this movie was one of the cleanest PG-13 I have seen in a while, but still would be recommended for teens and above.
My Ratings: [Average/4]
—Tiffani, age 14

Positive—I enjoyed this movie. although some of the dances were, in my opinion, inappropriate. I think that the message is great!
My Ratings: [Average/4]
—Terry Hicks, age 12

Positive—Although this movie had some content that was inappropriate it was well done. Me and my mom enjoyed it. It had some gangsters and drug users and two partying scenes—the first scene is …some dirty dancing and drinking. But when they say it’s PG-13 they really mean it.
My Ratings: [Better than Average/4]
—Samanth, age 10

Movie Critics

…Though Honey will never make anybody’s list of the greatest movies of all time, its earnest, pro-kids agenda cannot be faulted…
—Margaret A. McGurk, Cincinnati Enquirer

…‘Honey’ brings out the wholesome, affirmative side of the hip-hop aesthetic without being overly preachy…
—A.O. Scott, New York Times

…contains crude and obscene language and numerous scenes with scantily dressed women and men…
—Blaine Butcher, Preview Family Movie and TV Review

…utterly ludicrous yet good-hearted and squeaky-clean…
—E! Online

…A brainless booty shake…
—Bob Townsend, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

…Simple and sweet ‘Honey’ lacks substance…
—Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

…The movie’s aesthetic is one of bump “n” grind sex appeal, and things such as plot and character development provide only brief breaks from the highly sexualized dance steps…
—Loren Eaton, Plugged In