Now Add Honey

Now Add Honey is a wonderfully colorful comedy-drama film from 2015, directed by Wayne Hope and scripted by Robyn Butler, who also stars as the lead in this piece.

The plot unfolds around the unapologetically mundane life of middle-class suburban transplant nurse, Caroline Morgan, played flawlessly by Robyn Butler. Her husband Richard, played by Angus Sampson, and their two teenage children impact Caroline's life in unexpected, albeit predictable ways, until their ideal ordinary world is turned upside down. Ending up in a whirlwind of chaos Edwina Bartlam plays Clare - Caroline's daughter, who stands out with her portrayal of a typical teenager. While Caroline's son stands out owing to his quirks and eccentricities.

An unexpected twist occurs when Honey Halloway, their Hollywood pop-star niece portrayed by the vivacious Lucy Fry, has to come and live with them after her mother, Beth (Portia de Rossi), falls into a sudden coma. This sends the stable routine life of Caroline and her family into a delightful maze of pandemonium, as they navigate through the intense Hollywood spotlight and the contrasting lifestyle that accompanies Honey. Honey's ill-adjusted behavior due to her Hollywood upbringing ultimately tests the strength and resilience of the family's bonds.

Honey's arrival introduces a whirl of Hollywood glamour into their household, drastically changing the way they live as they attempt to integrate Honey into their regular, mundane family life, while helping her adapt to theirs. Honey's Hollywood A-list lifestyle includes 24-hour security, a customized diet, eccentric etiquette, and many hard-to-fulfill wish-list items that command the family's entire attention.

Alternating between comedy and drama, Now Add Honey is a smart exploration of spiraling celebrity culture through the eyes of a traditional suburban family. The movie also interacts with other broad themes like the sexualization of young girls in media and society and capitalism's far-reaching encroachment into our personal space and lives. Simultaneously, it flawlessly provides the viewers with a hilarious yet serious commentary on Hollywood's inherent extravagant spectacle.

The grandeur of Hollywood glamour, captured to its fullest, contrasts beautifully with commonplace settings, promoting suburban life and satirizing Hollywood norms. The film achieves high entertainment value with strong comedic moments, pristine cinematography, and a refreshing cast.

Robyn Butler brings her on-point comedic timing to her character, portraying Caroline's frustrations, joys, and anxieties, while dealing with her Hollywood niece and her own spiraling family life. Angus Sampson compliments Butler well acting convincingly as Richard, a man faced with supporting his wife while dealing with a home turned upside down.

Lucy Fry's role as Honey is arguably the centerpiece of the film, introducing a whirlwind of chaotic energy, innocence, and childish naïveté into the Morgan household. De Rossi, a veteran of comedy-drama, plays her part as Beth convincingly in the few scenes she features in the film.

The film's supporting roles, like those portrayed by Hamish Blake and Erik Thomson, add comedic roles to the film, adding depth and various layers to the plot. The Morgan family's dynamics come playing out beautifully with Lucinda Armstrong Hall playing Clare. On the surface, the character epitomizes a typical teenage daughter, but beneath the façade, Hall unravels layers of Clare's character, subtly showing viewers the inner workings of a young girl's mind.

Now Add Honey could be described as a fun roller-coaster ride through fame, family, and finding one's foothold in a world where the norms are ever-changing. With Butler's excellent script and a talented ensemble of actors, the movie delightfully brings to the fore an under-explored societal contrast, designed to entertain and elicit laughter while stirring critical thoughts.

For a family movie night, Now Add Honey is a flawless pick, since it contains robust family values, hilarious comedy sequences, some drama, and an engaging plot. If you are looking for a movie that offers various cultural commentary, keeps you engaged, and makes you laugh, this enchanting comedy-drama feature is just the right choice.