Film Review – Another Simple Favor

May 2nd, 2025 | POSTED BY Allen Almachar

A Simple Favor (2018) has developed a small but dedicated fan base. Mixing comedy, sex, intrigue, fashion, and soap opera level melodrama, the suburban thriller felt like a trashy novel best enjoyed with a mixed drink. I say that as a compliment. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of it, admittedly, the vibes were strong – especially the chemistry between stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. It was easy to ignore its shortcomings and get wrapped up in how much fun everyone was having. The same cannot be said about its sequel, Another Simple Favor (2025). The same cast and crew return, but the effect is not the same. Try as it might, the spark that made the original a surprise is not here, leaving us with a film that knows the right notes but can’t play the right melody.

Part of what made the first film work was its naughtiness. Single mom Stephanie (Kendrick) got mixed up in all the wrong ways with married couple Emily (Lively) and Sean (Henry Golding). Maybe Stephanie saw something in their lives that she wanted, maybe she was being overly friendly and couldn’t stop herself from crossing a line, or maybe it was just good old sexual tension. But the way she kept getting pulled into Emily and Sean’s circle, eventually leading to deadly consequences, is what kept us glued to the screen. That element is sorely lacking here. Director Paul Feig (with cowriters Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis) tamper down the lurid aspects of these characters, opting for a straightforward comedy/thriller. Sure, there are points where things get weird, and there is no shortage of dirty language and bizarre twists, but the tone and atmosphere feel less like a telenovela and more like a fancy murder mystery dinner. 

Stephanie has kept herself busy since her last run in with Emily. Her life as a social media personality has exploded with millions of followers, she continues to tour with her book, and although her career as a sleuth has taken a back seat, she still harbors a fascination with all things true crime. Maybe that helps explain why, when Emily shows up fresh out of prison, Stephanie accepts her invitation to her upcoming wedding in Capri, Italy. That and, well, who knows what Emily would do should Stephanie turn her down? Some of you may wonder why Stephanie would allow herself anywhere near Emily, given their rocky past. That, my friends, is a great question. The narrative bends itself backwards with excuses for Stephanie to walk back into harm’s way. Emily says she has changed her ways and that her upcoming nuptials are a sign of her turning a new leaf. But come on, who in their right mind would believe that? When a dead body shows up at the wedding venue, Stephanie once again must put the pieces together to find out if her off-again/on-again “Best Friend” is responsible.

On aesthetics alone, Another Simple Favor has plenty of eye candy. The waterfront views and rocky hillsides of Capri are a major upgrade from the humdrum environments of American suburbia. Everything is bathed in sundrenched yellows, whites and blues, flower arrangements are everywhere, and a simple drive through the town is so beautiful that it all feels like a postcard brought to life. This is the kind of place where a poolside conversation is accompanied by countless lit candles, not for practical purposes but because it looks good. Like before, the costuming dresses the characters in outfits straight out of a fashion magazine. Lively wears such elaborate outfits that it borders on ridiculous. Who puts on a fedora and a sharp three-piece suit just to go on a plane ride? At one point, Emily comes down a flight of stairs wearing maybe the biggest hat I’ve ever seen. The hat was so large that I worried she couldn’t see where she was going!

One of the joys of A Simple Favor was the rapport between Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Much of that dynamic continues here, albeit with a different wrinkle. Where Stephanie was once drawn to the allure of Emily, unaware of the darkness that surrounded her, this time she has a better understanding of what she is capable of. Stephanie approaches Emily with reluctance, unsure of whether the whole marriage thing is a cover for some diabolical scheme. Kendrick and Lively toss quippy one liners like tennis players hitting a ball back and forth. Even though the two of them reuniting is completely preposterous to begin with, it is fun seeing them dance around one another with their innuendos, double meanings, and back-handed compliments.  

It’s a shame that the plot they are in doesn’t manage to spice things up. The mystery at the heart of the narrative doesn’t draw much fascination, and neither does the investigation that follows. Where the first film felt like we were peering into the lives of people behind closed doors, discovering information that should remain private, this time Stephanie’s sleuthing felt more along the lines of a Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew case. Returning characters, such as Henry Golding’s Sean, Elizabeth Perkins’ Margaret, or Bashir Salahuddin’s Detective Summerville operate as throw away nods to the previous film. The introduction of new characters, such as Allison Janney’s long-lost aunt to Emily, arrive with little impact. Above all else, the writing doesn’t conjure up a story deserving of this cast. It moves with little urgency, and the twists and turns are not as shocking as the production would like us to believe.

Another Simple Favor looks amazing, and Kendrick and Lively do what they can in their respective roles. Sadly, there isn’t much here that wasn’t done more effectively the first time through. Instead of exploring new avenues and taking these characters to unexpected places, this felt like a lavish yet watered down version of what worked last time. I like seeing Kendrick and Lively together on screen, and I wouldn’t be against them teaming up for a third installment. If that does happen, I hope the result has a little more edge and a little less cheese.

A Simple Favor, Allison Janney, Anna Kendrick, Another Simple Favor, Bashir Salahuddin, Blake Lively, Elizabeth Perkins, Featured, Henry Golding, Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalogridis, Paul Feig