Ethan Coen is directing another film after “Drive-Away Dolls” —this one is titled “Honey Don’t,” the second instalment of a planned lesbian B-movie trilogy that he and his partner/wife, Tricia Cooke, are co-writing and co-directing.
This afternoon, it was announced that “Honey Don’t” will have its world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Alongside that news, the film has also secured a wide U.S. theatrical release on August 22 via Focus Features.
The film, which stars Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza, and Chris Evans, centers on Honey O’Donahue, a small-town private investigator who delves into a series of strange deaths tied to a mysterious church. Charlie Day and Billy Eichner also star.
“Drive-Away Dolls,” for all the middling reviews it received, was a kooky good time—lots of over-the-top sex, violence, and humor. It felt like an entertaining tribute to B-movies and zany road trips, with a very retro vibe and an absurdly quick pace (84 minutes).
“Honey Don’t,” while keeping with the previous instalment’s lesbian themes, seems to lean more into film noir territory. I gather it’ll still be as silly an endeavor as ‘Dolls’ was, especially since the film has been relegated to screen in Cannes’ Midnight section.
There were Coen-esque flairs in ‘Dolls,’ but it was goofier and more straightforward than most of Joel and Ethan’s comedies. I didn’t mind it, but it certainly had me yearning for the days when the duo would team up on better, and more substantial films.
Hopefully, after “Honey Don’t,” Ethan can reunite with Joel on their next project, which has been described as a “very bloody horror film” — the bros haven’t shot a film together in almost 8 years. Although, I’m sadly hearing Joel will be shooting his next solo film later this year.