Honey DVD Review:

Spotted in a nightclub by high profile director Michael Ellis (Moscow), Honey Daniels (Alba) is asked to dance is his next music video. Michael quickly realises that he has a real talent on his hands and gives Honey her dream job as his dance choreographer. As she starts to become famous, Honey decides to put her fame to good use and bring dance to her New York community.

In the 1980s Flashdance, Footloose, Fame and even Breakdance brought dancing to the big screen and Honey is the first attempt of the new millennium to re-ignite that craze. The problem is that the complete lack of the plot throws a bucket of water over that tender flame.

While the aforementioned movies didn’t excel in the story department either, Honey feels more lacking than any of them. Characters and subplots are forgotten about and left dangling throughout, with only Honey’s main plotline having any real development and even that isn’t much. The film does come into its own during the dance sequences however with local kids showing their skills.

Most men would gladly watch Jessica Alba writing her shopping list for ninety minutes, so the image of her in skimpy, tight fitting clothing getting jiggy with it could be what dreams are made of. She is extremely beautiful and very talented, so it is a shame that the script only concentrates on her physical and dancing attributes and not on her acting ability. There is nothing really to challenge her here meaning that it probably won’t be the highest movie on her résumé when she auditions for a more dramatic role.

The story doesn’t really give much to the supporting cast with David Moscow as Michael Ellis and Lil’ Romeo as Benny having the largest roles. Mekhi Phifer is wasted as Honey’s love interest Chaz but there are cameos from Hip Hop stars such as Missy Elliott to please fans of the music.

Trying to bring the dance movie back for a new generation could have been achieved with a better screenplay but while Honey has the moves in the dance sequences, it just trips and falls everywhere else.

Star Rating = * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a choice of Dolby Digital 5.1 and dts soundtracks, the transfer is very good, as you would expect from a modern film. The picture quality is sharp throughout with no pixelation, even during the energetic dance sequences. The sound is excellent throughout with good dialogue from the centre speakers but the sound comes into its own during the nightclub, music video and finale as the soundtrack fills the room.

BONUS FEATURES

The Inside Scoop: Feature commentary with Jessica Alba and director Billie Woodruff

This chatty and fun commentary comes from two people who really believed in the project. Director Billie Woodruff and Jessica Alba talk passionately about the movie revealing that they took their inspiration from ‘Flashdance’. They discuss casting and working with Missy Elliot, Tweet and the other Hip-Hop stars that make an appearance in the movie. Jessica reveals that Sheek was a really big fan of ‘Dark Angel’ and wouldn’t talk to her at first and Billie tells everyone that David Moscow was the boy from ‘Big’. The director also talks about the difficulties in making Toronto and L.A. look like New York and Jessica talks about the different revealing outfits she had to wear for the shoot.

Behind the Grove: The Making of Honey (10.56 mins)

Director Billie Woodruff, producers Andre Harrell and Marc Platt, costume designers Susan Matheson and O’Neal McNight, dance choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson, music producer Rodney Jerkins and stars Jessica Alba, Mekhi Phifer, Lil’ Romeo, Missy Elliot, Tweet and Joy Bryant talk about bring Honey to the big screen. Comparing the film to ‘Flashdance’, the cast and crew discuss the feel and tone of the movie and how it relates to Hip-Hop culture.

Deleted Scenes (33.16 mins)

Entitled “Original Opening”, “Long version of Alley Dancers”, “”Honey practices dancing in her apartment”, “Record Store Costumer”, “Louie and Honey in Record Store”, “Original first scene between Honey and her Mother”, “Honey struggles to be a dancer/Michael spots Honey in a club”, “Honey quits but teaches one last class”, “The making of Tweet: ‘Hypnotic’ video”, “Benny and Raymond meet Tweet”, “Honey receives a watch and tries to return it”, “Honey worries because she has nowhere to rehearse with the kids”, “Michael calls Honey”, “Honey tries to apologise to Gina”, “Sleazy Video audition” and “Chaz and Kids restore the church”, a lot of these deleted or extended scenes could have easily been put back into the movie. A director commentary or introduction would have helped to explain why these scenes were changed or removed.

Outtakes (4.07 mins)

This collection of amusing outtakes reveals how Jessica Alba can’t eat pizza and that you avoid been on the end of a slap from her.

Make Your Movie: Dance Like Honey (9.05 mins)

The movie’s choreographer Laurie Ann Gibson teaches you how to dance ‘Honey’s style’. This step-by-step guide will have to hip-hop dancing within ten minutes.

Exclusive Music Videos from Honey

Watch the Jessica Alba/Honey starring videos, Jadakiss and Sheek “J.A.D.A.” (2.13 mins) and Shaun Desman “Sexy” (2.13 mins).

In the mix with Blaque: Go behind the scenes of Blaque’s music video (6.35 mins)

Blaque take you behind the scenes of their first music video co-starring Jessica Alba and Missy Elliot. Choreographer Hi Hat takes you through the routines the girls will be using throughout the shoot.

Blaque ‘I’m Good’ Music Video (4.37 mins)

Watch the completed Blaque video.

OVERALL

A very average dance movie receives a very good DVD treatment from Universal. With good featurettes, especially Make Your Move: Dance Like Honey, music videos and a very entertaining commentary this is a very entertaining package for fans of the film. Throw in all the deleted scenes and you a rare instance of the DVD making the movie more enjoyable. This is a good buy for fans and now quite a good rent for anyone else who like the music.

DVD Star Rating = * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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