Common Sense Media Review
By Renee Schonfeld
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Solid dancing interrupted for predictable story; swearing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Honey: Rise Up and Dance
What's the Story?
Skyler (Teyana Taylor) wants to dance in HONEY: RISE UP AND DANCE. April, her hardworking mom (Kwajalyn Brown), has other ideas, basically dismissing Skyler's passion and strongly urging her to go to medical assistant's school. It bothers Skyler a lot, particularly because April thinks Skyler's sister is the dancer in the family. However, when Skyler learns of a dance competition that will award the winner a full college scholarship, she's determined to pursue her dream, despite her mother's lack of confidence. Joining one of the city's two most prominent hip-hop dance teams, Skyler's a long shot, particularly since the "Pulsars," led by demanding coach Jada (Charmin Lee), already have several dancing divas attached, one of whom is intent on spoiling things for anyone in her way. Only one member of each team will compete for the scholarship, and Skyler simply won't give up. Meeting Tyrell, Jada's estranged son and an accomplished dancer himself, complicates matters, but his encouragement may just be the answer to her continuing self-doubt.
Is It Any Good?
The Honey movie franchise seems to have an ardent fan base, with plenty of the expected dynamic hip-hop moves and vigorous dancers overcoming predictability, weak stories, and inconsistent acting. Honey: Rise Up and Dance, the fourth entry, is no exception. Credulity is stretched thin. Even the most unbelievable scenes -- kids doing fully-choreographed dance numbers in unison with no rehearsing or an untrained but enthusiastic dancer beating seasoned performers in a competition -- don't seem to dampen the enthusiasm for dance in this vibrant urban setting. Director Bille Woodruff, working with a cinematographer who knows how to light a scene, keeps the dances at the center of the movie. That's both the film's strength and weakness. With this much dancing and the heavy emphasis on pelvic action, even hip-hop can become boring after a while.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what it takes for a dance movie, or any movie about a young person's passion, to be a success. Do you think the story matters? Fresh ideas? Unique characters? What are your favorite dance movies? Why?
Think about the predictability of Honey: Rise Up and Dance. When did you know how the story would end? Did anything unexpected happen in this film? How do surprises enhance the experience of watching a film?
Discuss the two main role models in this movie: Jada, the coach, and April, Skyler's mom. How did each of them affect Skyler's emotional journey? In what way(s) was Skyler a role model for her mom; what did April learn from her daughter?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : April 3, 2018
- Cast : Teyana Taylor , Bryshere Y. Gray , Charmin Lee
- Director : Bille Woodruff
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Universal Studios Home Entertainment
- Genre : Musical
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( High School ) , Arts ( Music and Sing-Along )
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : suggestive content and some language
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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