#REVIEW: “HONEY DON’T”

By Mr. Will Wong

Sharp turns and forked roads come to define Ethan Coen‘s new Dark Comedy, HONEY DON’T.

The Film centers on a lesbian detective named Honey O’Donahue (Margaret Qualley), who is tasked with solving the death of a woman who she was to meet with a day prior to her death. This leads her to uncover a religious cult, led by Reverend Drew Develin (Chris Evans) and a criminal underworld responsible for multiple deaths. Along the way, she engages in a passionate tryst with a police officer in MG Falcone (Aubrey Plaza), and we learn about their troubled pasts in this sordid California town.

Coen and partner Co-Writer Tricia Cooke take some giant swings here, effectively building a stylized moody world noir,  time and again starting various storylines which suddenly (and senselessly) are thwarted. HONEY DON’T feels like a mish-mash of different wild ideas, without feeling ever quite like a cohesive story. This is unfortunate, considering the caliber of talent they are working with. They even get Chris Evans here!

Despite her best efforts, Qualley, an undeniable talent and presence, delivers a performance that feels as though it came about ten years too soon.in her career. Honey should feel more embattled and lived-in than what we got here. Plaza is effective as Honey’s love interest, but her character is plagued by Coen‘s sharp swings.

Despite copious gore and violence, it never feels brute enough to hit us hard. Humour is sprinkled throughout, yet it never feels quite funny enough. This feels like a fantasy, but ultimately is unsatisfying as an escape.

Qualley and Coen‘s re-teaming this go lacks the punch that previous collaboration DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS had. With a third to come to complete the Trilogy in tentatively-titled GO, BEAVERS!, we anticipate ending on a higher note next go.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada release HONEY DON’T in theatres August 22,.2025.