My plan for reviewing ‘Habit’, starring Ex-Disney child star and current Only Fans busker Bella Thorne, seemed win-win.
The Plot
First, let’s start with a warning. If you are easily offended, do not watch this film. If you get defensive about criticism over religion, orientation, drug culture, or advocacy, do NOT watch this film. That goes for those on the far Right AND far left of the political spectrum.
Bella Thorne plays ‘Mads a twenty-something party girl who recently moved to LA, but grew up in the Texas sized belt buckle of the Bible Belt.
But, Mads was the one drawn to religion, it wasn’t programmed or forced onto her by anyone else.
Where Bella Thorne first appears as Mads, the Texas transplant habit-ually attends a 12-step meeting, but not for any honest purpose. Mads stands by herself in the doorway, gorging herself on marshmallows; as she laughs derisively as an addict shares their struggles.
One might FEEL as if this is a teenaged character FORCED to be there by her parents. But, Mads is an adult, there by herself, 1497 miles from home.
Gavin Rossdale as ‘Eric’
Next stop, the home of an Ex-TV star turned low-level drug dealer, named Eric. Ex-Gwen Steffani husband, and Ex-Bush lead singer; Gavin Rossdale knows something about life after fame; something he brings to the role of Eric.
Eric tries recruiting Mads to deal his drugs while working as a cocktail waitress at a nightclub. Mads refuses, but gives into a different temptation; Eric himself.
Mads brings a backpack from Eric to her friend from back home, Evie, and Evie’s roommate Addy.
After working a shift for the young, sexy crowd of the L.A. party scene, AND a drug-fueled after party where seemingly no one went home alone; Evie wakes up to find Eric’s drugs AND money GONE!
$20K of cash and product stolen by a guy she brought home. Needless to say, the call to Eric doesn’t go well.
The problem, Eric explains, isn’t with him. It’s with his psychotic and hyper violent boss, Queenie, played by Josie Ho; and her Marty McFly cowboy outfit from Back To The Future 2 wearing Henchmen, Tuff.
The Good – Habit
Keep It Fun
While not a complete Comedy, Habit keeps a fast moving pace, and a lighter tone, with flamboyant characters and a surreal style.
The subject matter itself varies from dark and disturbing to sacrilegious and violent. But, the inherent immaturity of the characters and button-pushing-for-the-sake-of-itself nature of the narrative, leaves me shaking my head in bemusement, rather than befuddlement.
Translation: They’re doing it to get a reaction out of people, nothing more.
The trick will be to see who ACTUALLY takes offense to this movie, and to what they claim to be offended. Pleas of ‘Well I just think…’, or ‘I don’t see why…’ will echo, and chants of ‘What do we want? And when do we want it?’ will come from picket lines in front of theaters. To which I will roll in the aisles with laughter at people taking things WAAAAYYY too seriously…
The Good
The Cast
One of the many fun things with any weird Indie movie is the eclectic cast members that the film can attract. ‘Habit’ is no different.
Essentially a Star vehicle for the latest Disney inmate to be released from the overly sanitized asylum of child actors; Bella Thorne sets the tone for the cast.
Say Anything’s Ione Skye plays a blind philanthropist. Pitch Perfect’s Hana Mae Lee plays the drugged out head waitress at the nightclub. And, the late Michael Jackson’s daughter Paris Jackson plays… Well, you’ll have to see it to believe it!
The Bad – Habit
The Why
I fully support art for the sake of art, IE, there is no purpose other than existence itself.
That people fall all over themselves searching for some deeper meaning in a maddening search for the ‘Why’ that doesn’t exist; while the artist sits back and laughs is enough for me. Think Andy Kaufman during his ‘Taxi’ for reference.
Expand that further onto those people that seem to take offense for fulfillment like they breathe air to live, and I can see the appeal to this film…
HOWEVER, and this is a big ‘HOWEVER’… Habit fails in its messaging.
The Bad
The Messaging
Is it a serious commentary on religion, paternalistic power structures, the war on drugs versus the underlying cause of drug use, or a critique of judging female libido is viewed in Western cultures?
Or is it just a drugged out party girl recovering from one overdose by moving to L.A. and becoming an agent of chaos; and we’re along for the ride?
OR… Is this a flick that doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, much like Mads herself?
The lack of clarity in the storytelling fails even if the LACK of clarity is itself the clear reason for the story. Whether for fun or for advocacy, Habit can’t make up its mind.
The Review – Habit
Word Play
Other than the word play juxtaposing ‘habit’ for the clothing worn by a Nun, or ‘habit’ by referring to a drug addiction; ‘Habit’ has a ‘habit’ of thinking it’s more clever than it is.
Instead, Habit FEELS like it’s an act of rebellion by an Actress who was raised in a really, REALLY repressive corporate environment. It FEELS like she was artificially stifled by a company in the interest of being ‘family friendly’ when she was a Teen; and now that she’s in her 20’s, she’s making up for lost time.
Lindsay Lohan and Miley Cyrus did it before her; NOW, it’s Bella Thorne’ turn!
Other than that, Habit offers little in terms of being surprisingly good, or being so bad it’s good.
It’s as ‘edgey’ as the kid with ripped jeans and fake leather jacket on Nickelodeon who says ‘Gosh Darn’ instead of ‘Darn’!
SKIP IT.
Additional Information
See my Top 10 Fall Movies Ranked By Excitement
Dragon Movie Guy’s Review Page
Dragon Movie Guy’s YouTube Channel
Score
Score
Review Nation Score
Bella Thorne stars as 'Bella' in Habit. A drug addicted waitress who goes undercover as a Nun.
