Another Simple Favor

This is my 2 time trying to have my review posted. So something is going on with this movie. Could not do one on Amazon either. My reviews have never not been posted. So here I am trying again . Other the lively looking lovely in her outfits and the almost perfect backdrop to this movie.

There is nothing here honestly. I wish the supporting cast had more dialogue. I found great humour with them !

Anna Kendrick did a good job depending on her pay cheque because she is a really good actress . I don't know who did her wardrobe.

Ridiculous story, Blake Lively obviously added to the directors plot especially when they brought in mom Aunt and ahemmm Trinity .

Complete waste of 2 hours except for the stunning scenes at the 2 parties.

The first one was good I loved it , there just DID NOT NEED A SEQUEL.

Do yourself a favour SKIP.

Didn't the first one have a rather interesting premise of a crime thriller drama with an almost-comedic tone.. that felt like it lost the audience by the revelations and the underwritten third act? I'd call that consistency! And interesting to see a sequel at all.

So! The script overall doesn't really deliver, the ending is not satisfying, and it just is a list of events that bring no character arcs or development or growth. Making the interesting people from the first a backdrop. And there's not even message or takeaway. The execution is also a series of too many little things that bring this down enough below acceptable or enjoyable. From bad pacing to a lack of tension.

But putting it aside.. the acting is good, the camerawork decent, the locations gorgeous. And for once, the premise felt fresh and I didn't have a clue where it would take me! Just not enough to want to recommend this to anyone, want to watch it again, or give it a higher score. It was less than "okay".

Unfortunately, Another Simple Favor was a major letdown. As expected, it struggled with the same problem I'd anticipated: it's not clear what story is left to tell.

The original film centered around Stephanie, a seemingly ordinary suburban mom and aspiring YouTuber, who gets drawn into a dark mystery involving her glamorous new friend. It worked because it was grounded, quirky, and had just enough of a true-crime flavor to keep it relatable and engaging. But in the sequel, Stephanie is now a famous best-selling author, and the story takes us to Europe for a mob wedding. The grounded appeal of the first film is completely gone. Instead, it turns into full-blown lifestyle fantasy-extravagant fashion, exotic settings, and absurd scenarios that lack the relatability of the original.

The movie constantly references the first one-sometimes too much-and tries to top its jokes, but it often comes off forced or ill-advised. There are plot points that are played for laughs but really shouldn't be, and some of the humor feels out of place or even tone-deaf.

That said, it's not unwatchable. There are a few solid laughs, and the locations are undeniably gorgeous. But it just didn't work for me. It lost the spirit of what made the original special and became something flashier, but emptier.

"Another Simple Favor" tries to recapture the quirky charm and mystery of its predecessor, but ends up feeling like a forced, over-the-top sequel that forgot what made the original work. The plot is needlessly convoluted, filled with implausible twists that seem to exist just for shock value rather than story cohesion.

Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick reprise their roles, but their chemistry feels strained and less natural this time around. Instead of building tension or emotional depth, the film leans heavily into absurdity and camp, losing the balance between dark humor and thriller that made the first film engaging.

All in all, I find it disappointing.

Are we supposed to remember the not very memorable movie from 2018 that this is a sequel to? Well according to IMDb I actually did watch that one, but no, sorry, I am drawing a complete blank.

Meanwhile this movie is just a jumble of ideas and none of them are very good. Lots of twists and turns that are supposed to dazzle us but there are no real stakes and there never is real tension to get the viewer invested. The parts that are supposed to be funny work here and there but even then... Great locations though.

I think Paul Feig peaked with Bridesmaids and that is almost 15 years ago. Maybe it is me that is getting too old for this.