Twee Cancer and Adorable Kidnapping Plague "Honeyglue"

James Bird's gender-bending love story follows all of the rules.

A twee romp through the familiar territory of indie faux-rebellion, James Bird's Honeyglue goes through all the regular motions.

This time the leads are Morgan, the naive and terminally ill teenage daughter of a loving family, and her love interest Jordan, a sanctimonious and gender-bending rebel with a dark past. After a cute shotgun wedding, the couple commits a cute robbery and randomly kidnaps a doctor—but in, like, a cute and consequence-free kinda way.

A powerful scene sporadically appears, but there's also a song-and-dance number, children's animation within the narrative, and the forced use of 19 mm film. As it tackles issues like cancer, death and gender dynamics, Honeyglue is a lot like Portland: conventionally unconventional.

Rated R.

Critic's Grade: C

Fandango - Movie Tickets Online

Willamette Week

Willamette Week’s reporting has concrete impacts that change laws, force action from civic leaders, and drive compromised politicians from public office. Support WW's journalism today.