Honey Don't! review: A quirky crime drama

It’s been nearly a decade since we last got a Coen Brothers film on the big screen. Their last team effort was Hail, Ceasar! which released in 2016. Their last film, period, was the Netflix original The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, released in 2018. For fans, it’s been a long dry spell.

But while we haven’t gotten a new film from the brothers, we’re in the midst of a trilogy that shares that same cinematic spirit. Ethan Coen and his wife, Tricia Cooke, are teaming for a trilogy of “lesbian B-movies.” The first of which, Drive-Away Dolls, was released in 2023. Now they’re back with the second installment, Honey Don’t!, which opened on Friday.

The film is another quirky crime caper. It’s also another film featuring Margaret Qualley in the lead role. And its style is unmistakable for Coen Brothers fans, even if the film doesn’t reach the heights of some of those collaborations.

The adventures of Honey O’Donahue

Honey Don't takes place in Bakersfield. We follow investigator Honey O’Donahue (Qualley) who is tough, decisive, and good at her job. In the early going, she’s called to the scene of an accident. The deceased isn’t her client but had reached out for a meeting. Now, Honey’s interest is piqued. Why did she need an investigator and what led to her death?

Honey tries to pump the lead detective (Charlie Day) for information. While he means well, Honey doesn’t get a lot of information. Instead, she turns to another officer, MG Falcone (Aubrey Plaza), who seems more willing to help and with whom she shares a spark. Armed with some additional information, Honey digs into the past of the accident victim.

Soon, she finds that her almost client was a member of a church in town. That church seems to attract young people who are lacking purpose and direction. It’s pastor, Reverend Drew (Chris Evans), is slick and clearly hiding something. Can Honey get to the bottom of the mystery before it’s too late?

Honey Don't: A stylish crime caper

One of the things I liked best about the film was the look and style. It begins with an opening credit sequence that is clever and brings you into the world of the film. That carries through all the film as they build out a certain view of Bakersfield and the world inhabited by Honey that works really well to draw you in.

I also liked the basic plot elements. There is some fun to the characters, the dialogue, and the interactions. It’s helped by some strong performances. Qualley—who was the co-lead of Drive-Away Dolls, too—is great in the lead here. She’s a lot of fun and nails all the scenes she’s in. The supporting cast is good here, too. I particularly enjoyed Evans as a smarmy minister and Day as the loveably clueless detective. Both have some fun interactions with Honey, too.

The problem comes in some of the narrative construction. A lot of plot threads are introduced by them don’t all come together in a satisfying way. Like their previous collaboration, this film from Coen and Cooke is brisk. It clocks in at just 89 minutes, but that can be its detriment. The ending comes on a bit too fast without connecting all the threads. And the twist and reveal of the main antagonist feels a little out-of-place, too.

Overall, I enjoyed the film more than their previous installment. It’s worth checking out for the style and for the performances. But it doesn’t make the most of its potential, which is a bit of a disappointment.

Honey Don’t! is now playing in theaters nationwide.