Search - Honeybee (Sub) on DVD

Boxing Drama Doesn't Quite Go The Distance

Ibochild | Los Angeles, CA USA | 12/05/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I caught this film at the Hollywood Black Film Festival last February, so I am probably one of the few people to catch this film on the big screen. It's not surprising that the film never received a significant theatrical release. Simply put, HONEYBEE is an unpretencious B-movie about a young woman trying to make it in boxing. Nothing more, nothing less.From the looks of it, the film might have been pitched as a cross between ALI and GIRLFIGHT. Unfortunately, it stands up to neither of the films. This is from no fault of the actors. Accepting the rather petite Senait Ashenafi (who played Keesha Ward on TV's "General Hospital") as a boxer is pushing things a bit, but that detail aside, she does a credible job given the material she was given. Pierre Perea is okay as Honeybee's trainer and Corinne Van Wyck plays a good B-movie villian. As always, James Avery ("The Fresh Prince of Bel Air") gives a reliable performance. The rest of the cast doesn't make much of an impact.The main shortcoming of the film comes with Roderick Powell's script. Simply put, it lacks originality and depth. Everything you see in this film has been done better elsewhere. Powell also wrote and directed the equally campy, PREACHING TO THE SISTERS (a/k/a PREACHER PLAYER). Of the two films, HONEYBEE is marginally better, in large part due to its use of professional actors and the fact that this one was shot on film rather than grainy video.Melvin James' direction is sluggish and stylistically indifferent. It isn't until the last reel of the film that the pace starts to pick up, but by then it is too late.Despite subpar writing and directing, this is not to say that HONEYBEE lacks entertainment value. Even Ed Wood had his legion of fans. HONEYBEE is the type of film that you enjoy because it is bad. It's got many of the elements that make a "good" bad film. A plot that doesn't entirely make sense, the rogue boyfriend, the jealous female, just a smidgen of nudity (not from the lead, though) and even a little heart. So if you're not expecting an Academy Award calibre film, you might even enjoy this it.Personally, I'm a fan of films with complex female lead characters like last year's IRIS, THE DEEP END, IN THE BEDROOM and MONSTER'S BALL. Films that make you think or provide insights into different people's lives. However, many do not share my point-of-view. They think that those films are dry and boring. For those, there are films like HONEYBEE."

Waste of time.

BIG CEDDY | Brooklyn | 11/08/2002

(1 out of 5 stars)

"If you purchased or rented this title because you thought you renting a quality film then I feel sorry. I too rented this so called 'waste of time' in hopes of being entertained but the quality of the production was almost unbearable. Honestly, the sound recording was terrible, the acting performances were that of a high school play and overall there was no stucture to the story that would allow someone to follow. This seems like it would have been better off being released by York which at least confesses it puts out bad black films for the 'ghetto'."

Honeybee Review

BIG CEDDY | 10/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm very happy to see a movie that isn't a stereotypical black movie set in the hood. Very refreshing. I hope to see more movies like this, especially with strong black female lead characters. It was also a pleasant surprise to see James Avery from the Fresh Prince TV show in the movie. He did very well in an atypical dramatic role."

Honeybee

BIG CEDDY | 10/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Honeybee at a film festival in New York City and it is an excellent movie. The characters are interesting and the story is very entertaining. I'm glad to see a movie where black folks are doing something besides telling jokes or being the butt of jokes. In this movie, you actually get to see a black woman pursuing her dreams regardless of the odds against her."