Another Simple Favor Review: Anna Kendrick & Blake Lively Shine In This Silly, Sexy Sequel [SXSW] – SlashFilm

Director Paul Feig’s 2018 thriller “A Simple Favor” feels prefer it got here out a lifetime in the past. In some methods it did. The movie, which starred Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, was a theatrical hit earlier than the pandemic fully altered cinema as we all know it. Now, it is a streaming-dominated panorama. Considerably paradoxically, the prevalence of streaming has allowed Feig to reunite Kendrick and Lively for a sequel, made for a streamer, particularly Amazon Prime Video, seven years later. For each higher and worse, “Another Simple Favor” is a very decadent, much more foolish, even sexier affair. In some methods, it is the right streaming film.

The sequel picks up a number of years after the occasions of the primary movie and facilities on Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick), who’s unexpectedly visited by her outdated good friend Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) after being launched from jail. They reunite on the attractive island of Capri, Italy for Emily’s extravagant wedding ceremony to a wealthy Italian businessman, with Stephanie serving because the maid of honor. Stephanie is suspicious of Emily’s motivations however tags alongside anyway, in no small half to assist promote her e book about their earlier encounter. Naturally, homicide and intrigue follows as this wedding ceremony unfolds, placing Stephanie and Emily in the midst of an much more twisted collection of occasions as soon as once more.

It would not be honest to name “A Simple Favor” a very grounded movement image. It is definitely lavish, and the thriller unravels in ways in which solely a film may actually enable. But, it does keep a extra grounded high quality to it, and it is arguably Feig’s most severe film so far. With “Another Simple Favor,” Feig leaves the bottom behind for one thing much more campy and salacious. Mileage goes to differ on how interesting that’s but it surely definitely looks like popcorn leisure designed for the streaming period.

Credit score the place credit score is due, it isn’t as if any of the camp or silliness is unintentional. From the bounce, it is evident that Feig wished to do one thing extra over-the-prime. It is type of a daring transfer. It will have been very straightforward to do the very same factor over once more. In spite of everything, it labored out properly sufficient the primary time round, proper?

Whether or not or not the ultimate product is as wholly satisfying or as air tight is definitely up for debate. “Another Simple Favor” is an entire lot extra film, that a lot is plain. If the primary film was a steak and potatoes meal at a pleasant restaurant, that is an all-you-can-eat dessert bar full of fancy sweets. Is one higher than the opposite? Nutritionally talking, sure. However they each style good.

It isn’t fairly as large of a bounce in tone as say “Gremlins 2: The New Batch” was in comparison with its predecessor, but it surely’s definitely a bounce. Feig is totally having enjoyable, and one can be exhausting-pressed to accuse this of being a boring film. It is extravagant, ridiculous, and over-stuffed, with extra layers than an onion. It dances on a razor’s edge with reference to leaping the shark. All of the whereas, it looks like Feig is aware of that, which is why it would not disintegrate. There’s confidence within the chaos.

If this film has a power, it’s undoubtedly its two leads. Anna Kendrick is coming off of her directorial debut “Girl of the Hour.” She’s grown so much as a performer and filmmaker within the years because the first film got here out. But, she steps proper again into Stephanie’s footwear reasonably comfortably, going the place this wacky script takes her with out skipping a beat. However this can be a chemistry piece, and Stephanie is not almost as compelling alone as she is paired with Emily.

To that finish, Blake Lively shines brilliant because the ever-mysterious, daring, and attractive Emily. Lively, coming off of the success of final yr’s “It Ends With Us,” is brimming with confidence, which works completely with the at instances bonkers route of the story. From a chemistry perspective? There’s an oil and water factor occurring between Kendrick and Lively that simply works.

But when there is a standout right here, it is Lively, who makes this absurd socialite sing. We should always hate her, however you type of love her. One factor Feig is aware of the best way to do is solid. From bringing again Henry Golding and a number of other different key solid members to including in new, welcome additions ,such because the all the time welcome Allison Janney, it is powerful to argue in opposition to the ensemble.

This film veers in some actually wild instructions and it isn’t fairly as polished as its predecessor. On the identical time, it feels consistent with what got here earlier than. It definitely would not betray the characters or the world Feig has arrange. There’s nothing worse than a boring sequel and, even when it isn’t all air tight, that is removed from boring. There’s one thing to be stated for that in an period of paint-by-numbers franchise flicks.

“Another Simple Favor” arrives on Prime Video on Could 1, 2025.

/Movie Score: 7 out of 10