ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR
(director: Paul Feig; screenwriter: Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalogridis, based onthe novel by Darcey Bell; cinematographer: John Schwartzman; editor: Brent White; music: Theodore Shapiro; cast:Anna Kendrick (Stephanie Smothers), Blake Lively (Emily Nelson), Henry Golding (Sean Townsend), Andrew Rannells (Darren), Bashir Salahuddin (Det. Summerville), Elizabeth Perkins (Margaret McLinden), Michele Morrone (Dante Versano), Elena Sofia Ricci (Portia Versano), Alex Newell (Vicky), Allison Janney (Aunt Linda McLanden), Joshua Satine (Miles Smothers), Ian Ho (Nicky Nelson); Runtime: 120; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Paul Feig, Laura Fischer; Lionsgate/Amazon Prime Video; 2025)
“To enjoy this pic you have to roll with its absurdities.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A lesser but adequate sequel to the crowd-pleasing and highly rated campy original A Simple Favor (2018). This version is also directed by Paul Feig (“Jackpot!”/”The School For Good and Evil”) and also is co-written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis. And, it’s also based on the 2017 novel by Darcey Bell.
It begins five years after the original ends.
Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) reprise their roles in the original as dodgy suburban Connecticut moms. The ladies are bonded by murder and later by other criminal turns. The original ended with Emily in prison and the vlogger Stephanie becoming a private detective.
The sequel begins as Stephanie publishes a book about her friendship with Emily. It tells of Emily sent to prison for killing one of her triplet sisters and their father while also trying to frame Stephanie and her ex-husband Sean (Henry Golding) for her crimes.
Stephanie’s flummoxed over sending to camp her troublesome adolescent son Miles (Joshua Satine). She has stopped vlogging and quit being a criminal. But she’s deeply disappointed her book has commercially bombed.
The former friends reunite at a sparsely attended book signing. Emily, a surprise guest, asks Stephanie to be her maid of honor when she marries in Capri her wealthy Italian mafia bjg shot Dante (Michele Morrone), who arranged for her to be released from prison. Stephanie accepts only after her incompetent agent Vicky (Alex Newell) gives her approval, thinking it might help sell her books.
To enjoy this pic you have to roll with its absurdities, and dig the animated banter between Kendrick and Lively.
It played at the SXSW Film Festival.
REVIEWED ON 4/16/2025 GRADE: B
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