I Was Honey Boo Boo 2025 Movie Review
For those who recall it fondly, Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was a seminal moment in reality TV history. Arriving at a strange time for the social stratosphere, this 2012 oddity was filled with redneck jokes, colorful personalities, couponing, and lots of ‘sketti. Certainly, it was not everyone’s cup of tea—the series currently holds a staggeringly bad rating on Internet Movie Database, and was critically reviled during its run. However, people who watch reality TV rarely are doing so for the prestige. At the center of the show was budding beauty queen Alana Thompson, the self-proclaimed “Honey Boo Boo” child. After four successful seasons for the network, the show was abruptly cancelled in the wake of a scandal concerning Mama June, and the questionable company she keeps. This whole affair is only a tiny part of Alana’s larger life story. In Lifetime special I Was Honey Boo Boo, Alana narrates, recalling the wildly unpredictable nature of her trajectory in her own words. For fans of Honey Boo Boo or just those curious for an inside scoop on the tumultuous family drama, this documentary/dramatic reenactment makes for some compelling television, albeit replete with questionable acting and silly dialogue.
For most, the biggest draw of I Was Honey Boo Boo will be Honey Boo Boo herself—hearing about her experiences right from the mouth of Alana Thompson. Aided by the help of accidentally campy reenactors with frequently wonky accents, Alana’s story nonetheless feels revelatory. Even if avid watchers of long-running Mama June: From Not to Hot (now Mama June: Family Crisis) probably know most of the base-level events that we learn about, Alana brings a surprising amount of depth in her retelling. She takes us all the way back to 2011, when Mama June and Alana first started frequenting the pageant scene. We get to experience their relationship crumbling over the years, no doubt attributed to the fickleness of fame.
Having never watched Alana’s one-season run on Toddlers & Tiaras—other than that now-infamous viral clip—it was so sweet to see how much Mama June really wanted her daughter to succeed. Her other offspring, and even Sugar Bear, fell by the wayside. Only Alana and the pageants mattered. At that point, it wasn’t about the money. Even when Alana was offered her own solo TV show in the form of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, their relationship appeared to be stronger than ever. But with the overnight success came a wide range of more difficult obstacles for the family to face. Though we only spend a brief amount of time on the beginning stages, it absolutely brought back so many of the feelings I experienced watching the series with my own family. For her part, Alana says that she loves to interact with the fans, even though she was outwardly much more shy than her persona would lead one to believe. Mama June wanted the spotlight too, but her name wasn’t in the title, was it?
As the years pass by and Sugar Bear grows toxic, a cycle of abandonment and destructive relationships begins to form. Alana, too young to know any better, lacks a foundational family. Normalcy is a farce when it comes to family dynamics, but nothing about their living situation seems stable. It’s a miracle that Alana comes out the other side as a fully-formed person considering what she faces along the way. More TV opportunities come along, and Mama June promises that nothing will come between her and her daughters. The complete destruction of this promise corrupts the family from the inside out, darkening their public image. Tragically, Alana also suffers from bullying at school, and poor self image. The focus shifts to Mama June becoming “hot” in a drastic weight loss spectacle—what exactly does this suggest about Alana, who was struggling with her own weight at times?
The heavier moments here are emphasized by Alana’s voiceover; the choice to cut away to her in a chair being interviewed, integrating documentary elements, was definitely a wise one. It keeps us grounded in her warped story at the cost of fame. Drugs being brought into the mix only further complicates matters. One has to wonder what Mama June or any of the sisters will feel about this being brought to light, but also that part does not really matter, either. This is Alana’s version of events, and no other viewpoints are necessary. As the youngest member of the family, she has perhaps the most intriguing insight to offer. The ending is abrupt, and nary a mention is given for Anna Cardwell, the sister that recently passed after a battle with adrenal cancer. We do not get a sense of life after Mama June, mainly because Alana herself has just started to experience that facet of her day to day. Still, I Was Honey Boo Boo makes for a truly entertaining hour-and-a-half. No matter how preposterous the dialogue become or unintentionally funny acting choices, Alana’s words remind us that these are real people with real emotions. As far as Lifetime recollections are concerned, Honey Boo Boo is in good hands.
