Why Another Simple Favor Fails to Impress

Another Simple Favor – 2025

Director Paul Feig
Screenplay Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalagridis
Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Henry Golding, Allison Janney

A sequel to A Simple Favor was something to which this viewer looked forward. Anna Kendrick plays one of her more memorable characters in the original. Blake Lively is a stellar villain. Henry Golding’s magnetism flourishes. The music and editing are top-notch. The outfits are unbeatable.

One would think that a sequel would be a guaranteed goldmine even if they hit on half of the cylinders. This did not happen.

Kendrick shines in the first half of the film. However, her lack of a camera in Greece reveals issues with the sequel. She struggles without the tools that made her effective in the first film. Still she has some great one liners that reveal a growth in character.

Lively starts off strong, but in a crucial development, her acting falls off of a cliff. Trying to present as innocent and murderous would be a tough call for any actor. Lively barely tries to show a believable contrast.

Golding is almost completely unbelievable and totally wasted. As is Perkins, taking place of Jean Smart in the first film. My mind paused on Allison Janney. I imagined her as the mother of Emily, Hope, Charity, or Faith for some reason. In the end it didn’t matter, because her character is a waste either way.

The last act of A Simple Favor has some nice surprises. Another Simple Favor has no such surprises. Every climactic moment has been telegraphed badly and boringly. One doesn’t have to try at all to understand where each story line is headed, and why.

One thing the film has going for it is costumes and location. Feig takes wise advantage of these factors, making the film fun to look at if nothing else. The soundtrack carries the same quirky punch as the original, as well.

If you have nothing going on in a Sunday afternoon and it’s raining, this might be worth a watch.

(** out of *****)