Ethan Coen’s latest film, “Honey Don’t!”, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and arrives in U.S. theaters on August 22 via Focus Features. Following last year’s divisive “Drive-Away Dolls”, this new outing once again stars Margaret Qualley, but despite some flashes of charm, the result is a disjointed and underwhelming crime caper.
A Familiar Formula with Diminishing Returns
Like Drive-Away Dolls, Coen co-wrote the screenplay with his wife, Tricia Cooke, delivering another lesbian-centered caper. Qualley this time plays Honey O’Donahue, a private investigator in Bakersfield, California. Stylish and sharp-tongued, Honey becomes entangled in a local conspiracy after a would-be client turns up dead.
Despite the setup, the film never develops into a cohesive noir mystery. Instead, it feels like a patchwork of quirky scenes, leaning heavily on aesthetics without building narrative depth.
Characters and Performances
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Margaret Qualley embodies Honey with weary swagger, though her detective skills feel half-baked.
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Chris Evans has fun as corrupt preacher Reverend Drew, indulging in sleaze and vice, yet his subplot runs parallel to the main story without meaningful payoff.
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Aubrey Plaza shines as MG, Honey’s lover and a fresh twist on the classic femme fatale. The chemistry between Plaza and Qualley provides the film’s liveliest moments.
Supporting players like Talia Ryder and Kristen Connolly add subplots that clutter rather than enrich the narrative.
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Style Over Substance
Working with cinematographer Ari Wegner, Coen crafts retro-inspired visuals with Bakersfield’s barren landscapes as backdrop. Costumes by Peggy Schnitzer — including Honey’s stylish red pumps and vintage stockings — are a highlight. Still, the film lacks the social grounding that made classics like Fargo resonate, leaving Bakersfield as a vague setting rather than a character.
Political Edge Without Bite
Coen and Cooke gesture toward social critique, mocking religious hypocrisy and right-wing extremism. However, the political commentary remains shallow, with moments like Honey slapping a feminist bumper sticker over a MAGA one landing as cheap punchlines rather than meaningful satire.
Final Verdict
While “Honey Don’t!” attempts to blend noir, camp, and social critique, it struggles to bring its many moving parts together. Strong performances from Qualley and Plaza keep the film watchable, but ultimately, this caper feels like a missed opportunity — more concerned with quirk than coherence.
Grade: C-
