Written by Negan Fu, Photo courtesy of IMDB
A slate reading “2005” comes into the frame and claps. Otis [Lucas Hedges] frantically shouts “No” before an explosion blasts him backward into the air.
This scene is efficient in multiple ways; it not only functions as an attention-grabber, but it quickly conveys to us that Otis is an actor, a detail that we will soon learn was a highly prominent aspect of his childhood. Most importantly though, the scene sets up the dramatic weight of the film by embodying a physical representation of the emotional impact we will feel later down the line.
“Honey Boy” directed by Alma Har’el, takes its time to unfold the complicated relationship between 12-year old Otis [Noah Jupe] and his father James Lort [Shia LaBeouf]. Often jumping back and forth between the years 2005 and 1995, the film shows two versions of Otis.
The first is a young kid who struggles to feel cared for as he lives with his self-destructive father. The second is a young adult whose past deeply affects his day to day well-being at a rehabilitation center. Although the film dedicates more screen time to the former, the intercutting between the two ages is key to expressing emotion in an efficient manner. By showing us 12-year old Otis being mistreated by his father and then proceed to give us a scene where 22-year old Otis reflects on his father only giving him pain, Har’el is able to double the power of the emotional punch to great effect.
The film is also able to achieve a good balance of drama and humor. Yes, the viewer is more likely to let out more tears than laughs by the movie’s end, but the placement of jokes within certain scenes always feels natural. In one particular scene, 12-year old Otis is on a call with his mother when he soon finds himself communicating for both of his parents. Otis repeats what his mother says over the phone to his father, then vice-versa. It’s a scene that quickly builds in dramatic tension, yet the concept of a child echoing the dispute between former adult lovers is such an uncommon scenario. A few laughs here and there are inevitable.
Clocking in at just over an hour and a half, the film is remarkably well-paced, never once feeling rushed nor overstaying its welcome. Throughout the film, the challenges faced and the victories earned by Otis successfully connect us to his character. By the time the image cuts to black and the credits start to appear, it is hard not to feel a sense of contentment with how his arc comes to a close.
“Honey Boy” offers a story that can be tough to swallow due to its melancholic nature, but if one sticks with it to the end, the feeling of peaceful satisfaction will no doubt stick with the viewer long after leaving the theater.
