Honey (2003)

20% of critics liked it
(113 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(444,268 ratings)

Dark Angel-lead Jessica Alba stars in the title role of this film, the feature debut from music-video director Bille Woodruff. Honey is a girl from the streets who works in a record store, teaches the occasional dance class at a community center, and treks downtown every weekend to hit the clubs and… More Dark Angel-lead Jessica Alba stars in the title role of this film, the feature debut from music-video director Bille Woodruff. Honey is a girl from the streets who works in a record store, teaches the occasional dance class at a community center, and treks downtown every weekend to hit the clubs and try out some new moves. There, she meets a music video producer (David Moscow) who offers her a chance to be a choreographer -- but at a price she eventually learns she's unwilling to pay. Determined to pick herself back up, Honey goes back to the inner-city of her youth with plans of starting a dance school. Lil' Romeo co-stars as Honey's protege; other real-life musicians (including Missy Elliott, Tweet, Jay-Z, and Ginuwine) appear as themselves. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 34 min.
Directed By: Bille Woodruff
Genres: Musical & Performing Arts, Drama

In Theaters: Dec 5, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Mar 23, 2004
Studio: Universal Pictures

Critic Reviews

Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
The girl's gotta dance -- and meets little resistance -- in this hip-hop take on an age-old theme.
Ed Park, Village Voice
The star-is-born trajectory nourishes some howlers ... as well as a thumpingly unsubtle portrayal of the creative process.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
It's so predictable.
Charles Taylor, Salon.com
There's an entertainingly ludicrous movie lurking somewhere inside of the ludicrous, mediocre one this actually is.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Honey's a little too darling for reality.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Evokes a warmed-over Fox TV special.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Honey is just dumb but teens love it.
Derek Adams, Time Out
This is fairy tale stuff, its saintly hip-hop heroine far too worthy for comfort and its dialogue hilariously banal.
Garth Franklin, Dark Horizons
Oooh boy, whoever greenlit this baby is going to have some explaining to do.
Stella Papamichael, BBC
Cheerfully undemanding.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
Alba's quite easy on the eye, and admittedly, a bit of a star in the making.
Vince Koehler, Entertainment Spectrum
What does Honey do in the face of dilemma? Come see this touching film to find out.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Some dazzling acrobatic dance moves, but the story is pretty lame. The DVD, however, with quality extras, rates a B.
Jamie Gillies, Apollo Guide
Extras on the disc include a somewhat tiresome reel of 16 deleted scenes, which runs more than half an hour in length.
Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]
A preposterously transparent attempt to market hip-hop in as anodyne a way as possible, but -- for its target audience of pre-teenage girls -- it works.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Not nearly as good as Britney Spears' cheese-fest Crossroads...
Anton Bitel, Movie Gazette
No work of genius, but unexpectedly endearing.
Brian Orndorf, FilmJerk.com
Honey has an earnestness that's hard to ignore, but easy to dislike.
Nev Pierce, BBC
Occasionally preachy and always predictable, it's nevertheless executed with efficiency and a little charm.
Susan Granger, Modamag.com
The only highlight is Missy Elliott doing a cameo, as herself.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Bethany M

Such an inspirational film. The soundtrack was amazing and the ending of the film couldn't help but make you smile. Full of positivity and really motivates you. It wasn't a bad film for Jessica Alba to start with at all.
Lewis C

"We just peoples." Can you believe that I once actually went to the movies to see this? Sure, I was like 16 at the time. And I was on a date. But that's still kind of embarrassing. You usually couldn't get me to touch one of these movies with a ten foot pole. The… More
"We just peoples." Can you believe that I once actually went to the movies to see this? Sure, I was like 16 at the time. And I was on a date. But that's still kind of embarrassing. You usually couldn't get me to touch one of these movies with a ten foot pole. The whole "dancing" genre just does not appeal to me in the least. But there's exceptions to every rule, and Jessica Alba is an exception to every rule. So against my better judgment, I gave Honey a try. Every imaginable clichÃƒÂ© from this kind of movie is conveniently collected here in one neat package. The impossibly sweet and sunny heroine with a heart of gold, who achieves her dreams of dancing, but must deal with the sinister pitfalls that come along with success. The stern, disapproving parent, who is totally convinced that their child is throwing away her talent. The rift that grows between the main character and her friend, as her career takes off. The perfectly diverse, multicultural cast. The whitewashed, sanitized view of "urban culture", where the only bad guys are the drug dealers (whom the precious children are saved from in the end, of course). And the horribly unnatural "slang", that no real person on earth actually speaks like. Some of the meager entertainment that Honey has to offer, comes from how forced and hilariously awkward the dialogue is. Your tolerance for all that could possibly be much higher than mine. I'm the guy who automatically turns up his nose at any dross like this, churned out just to appeal to young urban (a.k.a. black) people. Surprise, some of us are immune to this kind of derivative, pandering nonsense. What I am thoroughly UN-immune to, though, is attractive young actresses. The star of this movie, in particular. So maybe I'd better climb back down off my oh-so-high horse. Getting to see Jessica Alba half-dressed and dancing around suggestively - holds some appeal for me. Not nearly enough to rescue this movie, but enough to make me not rip it out of my DVD player and throw it in the garbage. What can I say? I'm male.
Film C

love it the movie is awesome and great chorography that is brilliant really good movie!
Thomas B

grr. this movie annoys me. i understand the impact it had on the dancing world, but whatever. jessica alba is seriously hot, though
Alexander W

Oh yeah this is pretty good, I saw it in the cinema with my mum, and we enjoyed it. Its modern and lots of dance moves and positivity ! !
Rachel F

Pretty ridiculous film it was kind of a waste of a cash
danny d

alba is overrated and this movie was terrible
Dean M

Jessica Alba's hot and outstanding in her dance choreography sequences. I love it.
Sophie B

love the dancing in this jessica alba is good
Leigh R

I liked it.
Luke B

Truly inspirational cinema. Make's me feel I can achieve anything with my talent. As long as I never stop believing. Also I wont have to compromise my own ideals by sleeping with people in order to move up the ladder. Wait a minute...this is bollocks.
Deb S

Jessica Alba plays Honey Daniels, trying to make it big as a music dance choreographer. Honey rockets to success with her unique style but starts to lose her connection with the community she loves. One night, a big time producer Michael Ellis (David Moscow) comes to the club and… More
Jessica Alba plays Honey Daniels, trying to make it big as a music dance choreographer. Honey rockets to success with her unique style but starts to lose her connection with the community she loves. One night, a big time producer Michael Ellis (David Moscow) comes to the club and offers Honey a chance to dance in a music video but Honey soon finds that he has other ulterior motives. The story is extremely cliche and predictable but if you just want an excuse to watch Jessica Alba's pretty face then you might bear the 90 minutes of the Honey show!
Yinalí R

Could have been better
Jason S

There is something to take away from this if you're into a movie with no plot and dancing. Aside from the dialogue, if you like this kinda thing its not too bad. But for myself, I can think of better ways to enjoy myself.
d j

I loved this movie.. Jessica Alba had some nice moves. I loved the little boy in the movie.. just a good story altogether.
Sarah B

Not enough dancing, but the two brothers are fantastic and Alba is an appealing lead. Could've done without the Missy Elliott cameo though.
Sam C

Hmm, something about this movie seemed wrong, not quite sure if it was Jessica Alba's acting or not but I would bet money it was.
Sean S

To be fair I could only watch half of this movie before I changed the channel but the half I saw was pretty bad. The occasional tuning back in was no treat either. Jessica Alba is either a very bad actor or she has no ability to pick scripts because she has yet to impress me as… More
To be fair I could only watch half of this movie before I changed the channel but the half I saw was pretty bad. The occasional tuning back in was no treat either. Jessica Alba is either a very bad actor or she has no ability to pick scripts because she has yet to impress me as someone who can even attempt to carry a film. That is the big problem, she is supposed to be fascinating for all the other characters, people want her for her talent and etc. but she just doesn't show anything of interest.
Nate H

Not even Alba dancing in outfits like this could save this from mediocrity.
Krystle C

Gah, too formulaic for words. It's fun to watch for the dance sequences, but Jessica Alba's Cinderella-type character is a bit too sickly sweet. Fine if you just want a night in with the girls.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Jessica Alba as Honey Daniels

            Mekhi Phifer as Chaz

            Lil' Romeo as Benny

            Joy Bryant as Gina

            David Moscow as Michael Ellis

            Lonette McKee as Mrs. Daniels

            Zachary Williams as Raymond

            Roy Anderson as Undercover Cop

            Sara Francis as Leticia

            Gerry Mendicino as Louie

            Alan Shearer as bar customer

            Anthony Sherwood as Mr. Daniels

            Judi Embden as Mrs. Strom

            Stefania Supi as Dancer

            Victor Rojas as Dancer

            Given Kirac as Dancer

            Alison Sealy-Smith as Marisol

            Ryan Wilson as Dancer

            Kevin Duhaney as Otis

            Tracy Dawson as Assistant Director

            Lyriq Bent as Barber

            Lee Smart as Casting Director

            Jordan Madley as Honey's Friend

            Mariona Castillo as Dancer

            Damien Luvara as Neighborhood Guy

            Brandi Marie Ward as Choreographer

            Paul Mota as Officer Rodriguez

            Silkk the Shocker as Himself

            Wes "Maestro" Williams as B.B.

            Rolando Alvarez Giacoman as Carlos

            Laurie-Anne Gibson as Katrina

            Scott Neil as Lenny

            Derek J. Watkins as Craig Boogie

            Rodney Jerkins as Himself

            Jadakiss as Himself

            3rd Storee as Themselves

            Alicia Bruce as Barber

            Jeremy Cedeno as Street Dancer

            Shawn Desman as Himself

            Richard Fagon as Bouncer

            Edney Hendrickson as 2nd Assistant Director

            Natalie Johnson
            
            Suga May as Street Dancer

            O'Neal McKnight as Katrina's Friend

            Christian Monzon as bar customer

            Dwayne Morgan as Poet

            Nicole Neal as Street Dancer

            Sean Newman as Neighborhood Guy

            Harmonica Sunbeam as Himself

            William Omar Tobar as Beat Boxer

            Ivan "Flipz" Velez as Street Dancer

            Jull Weber as Joey

            Tasha Ricketts as Dancer

            Vanessa Cobham as Dancer

            Carl Bennett as Dancer

            Tracey 'Tre' Armstrong as Dancer

            Wumi Adedokun as Dancer

            Rachel Alix as Dancer

            Naomi Lee Allen as Dancer

            Andrea Amead as Dancer

            Dwayne Anderson as Dancer

            Andre as Dancer

            Ashleigh Au as Dancer

            Joquan Banks as Dancer

            Barbie-Q as Dancer

            Ron Bedeau as Dancer

            Denosh Bennett as Dancer

            Leon Blackwood as Dancer

            Noelle Boggio as Dancer

            Jesse Brown as Dancer

            Matthew Campanile as Dancer

            Marc Cardarelli as Dancer

            Julia Carnevale as Dancer

            Ilia Jessica Castro as Dancer

            Daniel Celebre as Dancer

            Andrea Ciacci as Dancer

            Amanda Cleghorn as Dancer

            Lisa Colalillo as Dancer

            Conchita as Dancer

            Romina D'Ugo as Dancer

            Jessica Dawson as Dancer

            Michelle Digioacchino as Dancer

            Lee Erdman as Dancer

            Joshua Feldman as Dancer

            Melissa Flerangile as Dancer

            Jordan Francis as Dancer

            Shawn Frazer as Dancer

            Michelle Galati as Dancer

            Victoria Galati as Dancer

            Michelle Gu as Dancer

            Hardkora as Dancer

            Harmonica as Dancer

            Niky Johnson as Dancer

            Shugamai Johnson as Dancer

            Shara Kim as Dancer

            Chantelle Leonardo as Dancer

            Alicia Lucchese as Dancer

            Sheldon Mamaril as Dancer

            Kojo Mayne as Dancer

            Kwame Mensah as Dancer

            Bianca Noel Mior as Dancer

            Edwin Arthur Moore Jr. as Dancer

            Latoya Morgan as Dancer

            Shaneen Murrell as Dancer

            Courtney Napper as Dancer

            Onika Ndukwe as Dancer

            Eboni Nichols as Dancer

            Jeffery Ong as Dancer

            Dorina Pagliaro as Dancer

            Sonya Pead as Dancer

            Devon Perri as Dancer

            Sabrina Porco as Dancer

            Michael Prosserman as Dancer

            Natalie Ravera as Dancer

            Darrell Reyes as Dancer

            Diana Reyes as Dancer

            Tiffanie Reyes as Dancer

            Tasha Robinson as Dancer

            Jeremy Rodriguez as Dancer

            Anthony Rue II as Dancer

            Kiera Sangster as Dancer

            Jesse Santos as Dancer

            Jason Sermonia as Dancer

            Jordan Setacci as Dancer

            Natalie Sherisse as Dancer

            Cheyenne Shirley as Dancer

            Stacey Simpson as Dancer

            Ashley Springer as Dancer

            Charmine Toppin as Dancer

            Adrian Wiltshire as Dancer

            Jeff Wong as Dancer

            Jodi Woodside as Dancer

            Earl "Punch" Wright as Dancer

            Russell "Goofy" Wright as Dancer

            Ma'at Zachary as Dancer

            Niki Sedlar as Dancer

            Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott
            
See full cast