HONEY DON’T!

(director/writer: Ethan Coen; screenwriter: Tricia Cooke; cinematographer: Ari Wegner; editor: Tricia Cooke/Emily Denka; music: Carter Burwell; cast: Margaret Qualley (Honey O’Donahue), Chris Evans (Reverend Drew Devlin), Aubrey Plaza (MG Falcone), Charlie Day (Marty Metakawitch), Josh Pafcheck (Shuggie), Gabby Beans (Spider), Talia Ryder (Corinne, Honey’s Niece), Lera Abova (Frenchwoman), Jacnier (Hector), Kristen Connolly (Honey’s sister Heidi), Don Swayze (Gary); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Ethan Coen, Tricia Cooke, Robert Graf, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellne; Focus Features; 2025-UK/USA)

“It’s a convoluted film that is going nowhere.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

The 66-year-old Ethan Coen (“Drive-Away Dolls”/“Jerry Lee Lewis: Trouble in Mind”) goes solo again from older brother Joel to complete the middle-part of his B-film black comedy lesbian detective trilogy, following last year’s “Drive-Away Dolls,” which also starred Margaret Qualley. This one is a slightly amusing escapist thriller he co-wrote with his lesbian wife Tricia Cooke. The title is attributed to the name of the character Honey O’Donahue, played by Margaret Qualley, who got her name from the Carl Perkins song Honey Don’t!.

The glib, glamor gal, Honey is a 1950s-like private detective who happens to be a sexually active lesbian in modern times who dresses in high heels and flowery dresses. She works on a murder case in Bakersfield, California when her potential client Mia turns up dead on the roadside from foul play. Mia’s linked to the Four-Way Temple church, a religious cult run by the sexually corrupt boorish Reverend Drew (Chris Evans, who played Captain America). He coerces ladies in his congregation to have kinky sex with him, and also deals drugs through his connection with the French mafia. Several unsolved murders are linked to his drug partnership. Cleaning up any messy situations is a Frenchwoman (Lera Abova) riding around in a Vespa.

We learn that Honey has family problems from a troubled sister (Kristen Connolly) and a niece (Talia Ryder) with an abusive boyfriend. And that Honey has trouble holding on to relationships. In her latest affair, she’s involved with MG (Aubrey Plaza), a butch cop stationed in the local precinct, who lives in a suburban house.

It’s a convoluted film that is going nowhere. I expected something better from one of the Coen Brothers, though it at least has a few funny bits.

It played at the Cannes Film Festival.

REVIEWED ON 6/8/2025  GRADE: B-
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