The Honeymooners Review
by samseescinema (sammeriam AT comcast DOT net)June 13th, 2005
The Honeymooners (2005)
Reviewed by Sam Osborn of www.samseescinema.com
Rating: 2 out of 4
Director: John Schultz
Screenplay: Barry W. Blaustein, Danny Jacobsen, David Sheffield, Don Rhymer
Cast: Cedric the Entertainer, Mike Epps, Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union
The 2005 The Honeymooners is a low-grade, low-rent film that imitates the classic television show, placing it in modern times and hoping that the show's remaining cult following can motivate the movie-going teenagers to check it out for the nine dollars in their wallets. As depressing as that sounds, it's most of the truth. The rest is that although the motivation behind the film is tacky, the film isn't a complete waste of time. At least the director (John Schultz) had the decency to achieve a solid emulation of what the original sitcom had to offer.
Cedric the Entertainer plays the iconic role of Ralph Kramden, married to Mrs. Alice Kramden, played by Gabrielle Union. The two live in a high-rise apartment in New Jersey, surviving paycheck to paycheck off of what Ralph's Bus Driver job can offer. The Kramden's best friends, Ed and Trixie Norton (Mike Epps and Regina Hall), live a floor below, connected mostly by a wobbly fire escape. For years, Ed and Ralph have been scheming new ploys to hit the jackpot with a get-rich-quick solution, but have only come out with a newfound dent in their bank account. But now Trixie and Alice want something out of their husbands. A charming little duplex has just gone on the market a few streets away and $20,000 is being asked for a down payment before a slimy corporate real estate agent takes it for his development. Alice has the idea that there's $10,000 stashed in the savings account when in reality Ralph's wasted it on another half-assed scheme of his that inevitably failed. Now, in order to find the $20,000 before the real estate agent wins the bidding, Ralph and Ed have to scheme their way into twenty grand without the girls knowing.
The problem with the 2005 The Honeymooners is that it plays out like three or four episodes of the original show. The show is emulated almost too well. I felt very similar to how I feel after being subjected to the sitcom mediocrity of today. The Honeymooners is only vaguely entertaining. And following in the sitcom's footsteps, the pacing works in 30 minute segments. Specifically, a new story erupts every half hour as in sitcoms. But this isn't just the classic three act system; The Honeymooners is almost literally three 22 minute sitcoms stringed together by the common thread of the imposing $20,000. The good news is that there aren't commercials.
Also working in the film's favor is the cast. Although the girls aren't very successful, Cedric and Mike Epps do well in their imitations. Cedric's Ralph Kramden is likeable in his ignorantly dominating ways and Epps' Ed Norton is similarly acceptable with his kind, following manner. As well as the cast, the art direction is nicely set up to make New Jersey and NYC into a kind of crooner's creation. The moon's always full and the bricks always red, with soul music and a hometown feel brimming from the visuals. It's a subtle and good addition to what otherwise is a sparse, sitcom-ish re-make. -Sam Osborn of www.samseescinema.com
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