Paramount’s ‘Honey Pot’ Probably Not the Answer for America’s Girls

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on June 16, 2009

I’m all about ‘girl power.’ In fact, it has gone so far as I am currently only half-dreading a conversation about feminism with my special lady friend. And for a man of my stature, one whose daily grind includes sifting through hot images of Natalie Portman (you’re all welcome for that last one, by the way), that is saying a lot.

Anyway, I tell you that story to tell you this one. Paramount has picked up an action-comedy pitch from newcomer Liz Meriwether called Honey Pot, a feature that will follow two female leads and be set in the world of international espionage. Meriwether has described the film to Variety as what happens when “a bunch of hot, funny women get their Bourne on.”

There seems to be a lot of talk about strong female characters lately, especially after an editorial from NPR’s Monkey See subtly hinted (See: ‘Is Pixar Sexist?’) at some sexist tendencies in the way Pixar tells its stories. It is a continuation of a conversation that was quite hot after a Warner Bros. executive was outed (See: ‘Warner Bros. Says No to Female Leads’) for saying that he was no longer interested in making movies with female leads back in October of last year. And in fairness, its an extension of a much greater discussion about the role of women in film — something that I could probably talk about for another 10,000 words or so.

This story raises the idea in my mind, but after reading the note on the plot, I’m not convinced that Paramount is really pushing a progressive agenda here. Not to sound soft on sex in cinema, but ‘hot girls getting their Bourne on’ doesn’t sound like a step toward truly strong female characters. Sounds like an eye-candy laden actioner if you ask me. Then again, is that so surprising? It would be nice to see a solid story with some strong, real female characters given its due by its studio, delivered with a solid marketing plan and sold to the masses of American girls who are currently being bombarded with the glossy, airbrushed tomfoolery of our pop culture landscape. As a boy, I was lucky to have great icons like Indiana Jones to look up to. Don’t the girls of today deserve something like that?

Better question: is this movie that movie? I don’t know. I’m just spitballing here, people. My mind is elsewhere. Here’s hoping that Liz Meriwether can deliver a story that is more than just ‘a bunch of hot, funny women get their Bourne on.’ If that’s the case, she’s earning points in my book. Otherwise, it will be just another film that we post pictures of before it hits theaters, then quickly fades away.

Please discuss below…

Image courtesy of Secret Agent Girl on DeviantArt

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