Honey 2 Blu-ray Review

The 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation of "Honey 2" on Blu-ray is commendable for its impeccable clarity and vibrant color scheme. This transfer showcases a pristine, clean image with vibrant primaries and spot-on skintones. The black levels are deep and contrast remains robust throughout, well-suited for both still and fast-moving dance scenes. Detail is generally strong, with closeups revealing intricate textures, albeit midrange shots can occasionally appear soft. Edge delineation is crisp, devoid of artificial sharpening, enhancing the overall visual authenticity. Despite a minor presence of banding, artifacting, smearing, aliasing, and crush are notably absent.

The fast-paced dance sequences benefit from a higher shutter speed, which ensures that even rapid movements like krumping are captured with sharpness and clarity. Textures in costumes, such as Maria's sports bras and other characters' attires, are consistently visible, adding a tactile dimension to the visuals. The detailed resolution holds steady save for a few isolated soft shots.

The film utilizes a bright and audacious color palette reminiscent of late '80s and early '90s music videos, providing a lively and dynamic viewing experience. Club scenes particularly feature strong, saturated lighting that intentionally exaggerates colors, contributing to the overall visual effect the director intended. The robust black levels contrast vividly with the colorful hues, accentuating the dynamic range. Compression artifacts are minimal, with aliasing appearing briefly but infrequently. The absence of digital noise reduction (DNR) and edge enhancement further underscores the high-quality transfer that "Honey 2" achieves on Blu-ray.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track in "Honey 2" is a mixed bag but ultimately delivers an engagingly vibrant audio experience. Universal's presentation ensures that the dynamic and rhythmic musical elements are effectively distributed across all channels, with a hefty low-end output that immerses the listener. The rear speakers excel in generating convincing crowd noise and atmospheric effects, contributing to a bright and energetic soundfield. However, in favoring style over nuanced audio precision, the directionality is not flawless. Despite this, dialogue remains consistently warm, clear, and well-prioritized against the backdrop of the film's energetic dance sequences and action scenes.

The track's balance, however, leaves room for improvement. A predominant 80% of the audio emanates from the front channels, causing an imbalance that necessitates frequent adjustments to avoid stark contrasts between overpowering music and subdued dialogue. This discrepancy can lead to listener fatigue or strained effort to catch the softer spoken moments. On the positive side, the music itself benefits from an impressive mix within the channels, enveloping the listener with its energetic beats even if its volume often overshadows other elements. Effects are primarily confined to the front channels and are less prominent compared to the music.

These elements collectively create an audio experience that, while not without its faults, does not disappoint. The vibrant soundtrack elevates the viewing experience despite the occasional imbalance and front-heavy mix. Overall, the DTS-HD Master Audio track provides an enlivened, albeit imperfect, audio presentation fitting for the high-energy nature of "Honey 2."

The Blu-ray extras for "Honey 2" offer a rich variety of behind-the-scenes content and detailed explorations into the dance aspects of the film. The Audio Commentary by Director Billie Woodruff stands out with his insightful passion for dance, sharing both technical details and personal appreciations. Deleted Scenes provide a look at ten additional moments cut from the film, offering context but of varying quality in terms of engagement. The Dance Sequences feature uncut routines from five dance crews, emphasizing the impressive choreography. Behind the Dance Crews is a comprehensive featurette, showcasing how the production capitalized on Los Angeles' dance scene. Extras like The Dream Continues and Dance or Die Tryin' further delve into the film’s connection to the original "Honey" and the incorporation of diverse dance styles, respectively, providing both enjoyment and educational value for dance enthusiasts.

Extras included in this disc:

• Audio Commentary: Insightful commentary by Director Billie Woodruff.
• Deleted Scenes: Ten scenes removed from the final cut.
• Dance Sequences: Full, unedited dance routines by five prominent crews.
• Behind the Dance Crews: Making-of featurette focusing on production and casting.
• The Dream Continues: Examination of the sequel’s ties to the original "Honey".
• Dance or Die Tryin': Breakdown of various dance styles used in the film.
• BD-Live Functionality: Interactive online features.
• My Scenes Bookmarking: Personalized scene bookmarks.

"Honey 2" dives into the vibrant and often ludicrous world of competitive street dance, guided by a formulaic screenplay and exaggerated portrayals that unmistakably cater to a niche audience. As a pseudo-sequel to the 2003 film “Honey,” it lacks the original’s star, Jessica Alba, but follows new protagonist Maria Bennett (Katerina Graham). Fresh out of juvenile detention, Maria returns to her Bronx roots under the watch of Mrs. Daniels (Lonette McKee) and gets entangled in dance battles and community drama. The predictable narrative has Maria facing off against her old crew, the 718, culminating in an all-too-familiar dance showdown on a televised competition. Despite the obvious clichés and overwrought performances, the energetic dance sequences and flashy choreography provide some redeeming entertainment for dance enthusiasts.

While "Honey 2" flounders with its contrived plot and subpar acting, it thrives when focused on its core strength: the dancing. Graham, along with her castmates, delivers impressive and captivating routines that almost elevate the film above its disposable drama. Director Bille Woodruff's skill shines particularly in these moments, showcasing intricate choreography through well-executed dance scenes that come at a frantic pace. However, his direction falters when it delves into character development and emotional storytelling; the romance between characters Maria and Brandon (Randy Wayne) feels forced and unconvincing. Scenes often lose momentum as they shift from energetic dance-offs to lackluster dramatic interludes that fail to sustain viewer engagement.

Ultimately, "Honey 2" attempts to mix passion with pretense. Its efforts to inject gravity into a lightweight narrative often feel misguided, yet its exuberant dance sequences reflect genuine dedication from the cast. While it doesn't revolutionize the genre or break new ground, it delivers the kinetic thrills expected by fans of dance films. The film's inconsistency means it’s unlikely to convert skeptics but could easily resonate with viewers craving relentless dance action over substantive storytelling.

Honey 2 maintains a loose connection to its predecessor but establishes its own identity primarily through vibrant dance sequences. Unfortunately, the narrative and performances fail to rise above the genre's clichéd conventions. This is yet another dance movie that follows a predictable plot: a new dance crew aims to take down an established rival in a televised competition and underground dance-offs. Viewers can foresee the outcome from the beginning, as the story hits every familiar beat without originality.

Despite its formulaic structure, Universal's Blu-ray release is impressive from a technical standpoint. The video quality is sharp and detailed, arguably exceeding the material's merit. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track, while not groundbreaking, enhances the film's musical elements, allowing audiences to engage more deeply with the dance numbers. Additionally, the disc offers a range of special features tailored to modern dance enthusiasts, providing some added value.

In conclusion, Honey 2 is best suited for die-hard fans of the dance genre. With its exceptional technical presentation on Blu-ray, the film can be enjoyable for those interested in the visual and auditory aspects of dance. However, its hackneyed storyline and subpar performances make it a difficult recommendation for a broader audience. If you're passionate about dance films, it might be worth a watch, but others may want to pass on this one.