I enjoyed A Simple Favor: a cosy, domestic thriller that brought the twists and the fashion. Another Simple Favor attempts to go bigger, bringing the story to Capri and turning the camp up to a hundred. The first half is pretty good and manages to keep the viewer intrigued, however, the second half goes completely off the rails and not in a good way. Another Simple Favor is unable to strike a balance tonally, introducing really dark ideas but then proceeding to laugh it off casually when that’s not really possible.
It’s been 5 years since the events of A Simple Favor. Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) has written a bestseller based on her experience with Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), but she hasn’t bothered to properly tour the book so the sales have stagnated. Lucky for her Emily’s out on parole and wants Stephanie to be her maid of honour at her wedding to Dante Versano (Michele Morrone). Why is Emily being all friendly when Stephanie is the reason she ended up in jail? Why is Dante so eager to marry Emily when he knows she’s a murderer? These are the questions that keep us hooked and invested.
The best part of Another Simple Favor is the chemistry and banter between Kendrick and Lively. They bicker and poke fun at each other, and there’s also some measure of light flirting. Kendrick is a standout here as the film utilises her comedic skills far more in this one than the predecessor. She’s either stunning us with her amazing looks, or making us laugh with her sharp wit. Lively’s line delivery as Emily is so deliciously camp, and we can’t tell if she’s trying to seduce Stephanie or threaten her. The swimming pool set piece with the two of them is really the best scene in the entire movie. They both look gorgeous, the conversation flows naturally like it would between friends, and there’s also vulnerability as Stephanie reveals her fears doing this whole true crime expose shtick.
The fashion has changed a little from the first movie, which makes sense since they’re dressing more for the exotic location of Capri. Not all of the wardrobe is a smash, but I really enjoyed most of Lively’s and Kendrick’s looks. Emily’s fashion is definitely more camp in this film; when her wedding dress has a blood-soaked looking train, you know the movie’s just striving for hyperbole at every corner.
Unfortunately, when the second act hits, things aren’t as fun anymore. It’s just a bit too madcap, a bit too loco, and the darkness of the revelations are just immediately laughed off. I know it’s camp and we’re not supposed to take it seriously, but this is a balance the film has to strive to maintain. It can’t show us disturbing imagery and then expect us not to be affected and just go along with the laughs. Most of the cast are regulated to roles in the peripheries of the film, which shouldn’t be the case when you are casting people like Henry Golding and Allison Janney. You don’t cast someone like Allison Janney and then give her no opportunities to show off her acting chops. This leaves us with a film that isn’t quite so cohesive, with loose ends that are tied up a bit too cleanly in order to pave the way for a third film.
I would be interested to see a third film, because the Kendrick and Lively pairing is fantastic; I could watch a whole movie of just the two of them playing off each other. However, I hope the screenplay embodies more of the spirit of the first than the second. Another Simple Favor is not quite as good as the first, but it has its fun moments – not a bad way to spend a few hours.
REVIEW SCORE: 3/5
