Films: Honey gets the buzz

THE STARS Jessica Alba, Lili Romeo, Mekhi Phifer, David Moscow, Joy Bryant

THE STORY Honey Daniels (Alba) is a would-be dancer and choreographer who never seems to get a break. But when a music video director spots her hot dance routines at a Manhattan club, she gets to live out her dream.

With fame and fortune come a few personal sacrifices, and Honey has to make the hard choice between working with some of the top hip hop talents or going back to her friends and her old life teaching dance routines to kids in her neighbourhood. Guess what she chooses?

WHAT'S GOOD? A film with such a good heart that it is hard to hate. Jessica Alba (star of TV's Dark Angel) is beautiful, supple and charismatic as Honey. Mekhi Phifer (from 8 Mile) is solid as Honey's homeboy barber boyfriend. Missy Elliott and Tweet put in appearances.

WHAT'S BAD? Despite the stylish hip hop backdrop, it is desperately old fashioned. It even has the old "let's put a concert on in our own backyard" storyline. It is all so saccharine sweet that it is hard to swallow. This is a fantasy New York where a girl from nowhere can rise to the top in a matter of weeks and where street kids are really cuddly urchins with hearts of gold.

HOW LONG IS IT? A tuneful 94 mins.

FINAL VERDICT As a fantasy musical it is tasty.

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