HONEYGLUE is an unconventional romance that breaks down traditional roles, barriers and notions of what a romantic relationship should be. Morgan (Adriana Mather) has been fighting a brain tumor, and has recently learned that she has run out of treatment options. She only has about three months left to live. Jordan (Zach Villa) is a gender non-conforming artist with a history of running from problems. He has drifted from place to place, with no solid connections and nothing coming into his life in a meaningful way, until he meets Morgan.
The two cross paths at a nightclub and share an instant connection. Despite the obvious attraction, Morgan repeatedly pushes Jordan away. Given her medical situation, she knows that a relationship with her has no future, and she wants to save him from the eventual inevitable heartbreak. Eventually, as she faces down the end of her life, Morgan begins to think about how she would like to spend it. The best recommendation her doctors can give her is to spend that time in a hospital, so that they can better monitor and manage her condition. Despite her efforts at dissuading him, Jordan remains convinced that the two can share meaningful time together, and that they should make the most of whatever they have left. Make Death chase them. Morgan eventually realizes that she wants nothing more than to have every experience she possibly can with Jordan before the tumor ultimately wins and the two embark on a journey to do just that.
The film is rather uneven, with some rocky moments early on. The relationship between the two starts out a bit shaky, growing a little too familiar and intense a little too quickly, and ultimately making the first act feel rushed and stilted. As the story progresses, the connection between the two leads becomes more palpable. What starts out forced and trite gradually builds to something meaningful and convincing. Though we go from from zero to sixty in the first part of the film, the story eventually settles in and finds its grove, with the relationship between Morgan and Jordan leading the way as they each come to terms with the direction their lives are taking and with the inevitable loss that they will soon face down.
The performances from Mather and Villa really help to sell the story, as they bring the lovers to life in a very realistic way. Eventually, they turn Morgan and Jordon into two very rounded characters that we can’t help but connect with. As we see them facing a dismal future and making the most out of the present, we can’t help but be caught up in their outlook, holding themselves to the here and now, and refusing to let anyone except them define who they are, both individually and as a couple.
Though not entirely successful, James Bird’s script does attempt to put a fresh spin on an old concept. Star crossed lovers is certainly nothing new, but the energy that Jordan and Morgan share make this particular version memorable, even as it does not fully pull itself together. At its heart is the message that our time here is short, and that the best way to spend it is by embracing who we are and refusing to compromise that.
