So, ‘Another Simple Favor’ got a whopping 7 out of 10 stars, huh? 🙄 Must be a slow news day. I mean, who even asked for a sequel to that fever dream of a movie? Did anyone actually like the first one? Seriously, sound off in the comments if you did. I need to know who to block.
Alright, alright, so apparently, this cinematic masterpiece (I’m using that term *very* loosely) is gracing our Prime Video screens on May 1st. It’s got Anna Kendrick, bless her heart, reprising her role as the mommy vlogger-turned-crime-solver, Stephanie Smothers. And of course, Blake Lively is back as the mysterious, murderous fashion icon, Emily Nelson. Because, you know, that’s what the world needs more of: ridiculously dressed people committing crimes. 💅
Paul Feig, the director who apparently hasn’t learned his lesson from the first one, is back too. He’s decided to “amp up the mystery,” which I’m pretty sure just means adding more plot holes and nonsensical twists. Oh, and they threw in some “luxurious Italian island locations” to distract you from the fact that the story probably makes less sense than a politician’s promise. 🇮🇹🍕
Will ‘Another Simple Favor’ ask too much of you? (Spoiler alert: Yes)
So, the brilliant minds behind this movie decided to pull a sitcom move and take the characters on vacation. You know, like when ‘The Brady Bunch’ went to Hawaii and everyone suddenly became experts in Hawaiian culture? Or when ‘Friends’ went to Barbados and Ross’s spray tan malfunctioned? Classic television. 🌴🍹
‘Another Simple Favor’ tries the same thing, but with murder! Because nothing says “relaxing vacation” like a good old-fashioned crime spree. They moved the whole shebang to Capri, Italy, hoping the scenery will blind you to the fact that the plot is thinner than a supermodel’s patience. Does it work? Well, the review says “yes and no.” Which basically means “maybe, but probably not.” 🤷♀️
Script and Direction (Or, How to Make a Mess)
The writing team is a real who’s-who of… people who have written things. Jessica Sharzer, who apparently adapted the first movie from a book (because who needs original ideas?), teamed up with Laeta Kalogridis, who’s known for… ‘Shutter Island’? What? That’s like pairing a clown with a brain surgeon. 🤡🧠
Together, they’ve created something that’s “similar” to the first movie, but “more absurd.” Which, again, is saying something. The first movie was already about as realistic as a unicorn riding a rollercoaster. They tried to blend mystery and comedy, but apparently, they tipped too far into “ridiculousness.” 🤣
But hey, there are “laughs to be found,” so that’s something, right? And enough twists to keep you guessing, even if you’re just guessing when the movie will finally end. The main mystery “starts to deflate” once it’s revealed, and there’s some “egregious sequel baiting” at the end. Because, you know, they haven’t tortured us enough already. 🎣
Feig, bless his heart, apparently can “adeptly hop between genres.” I’m pretty sure that just means he’s indecisive. He also “manages the new cast recruits,” which probably involved a lot of begging and pleading. But hey, at least he kept the focus on the “winning, sometimes overly catty dynamic” between Kendrick and Lively. Because that’s what really matters: catfights and couture. 😼👗
Cast and Performances (Or, Who’s Getting Paid Too Much?)
Lively might be the “superstar,” but apparently, Kendrick is the one who “keeps the movie grounded and funny.” Which is like saying a paperclip is holding up the Eiffel Tower. Kendrick’s character is awkwardly trying to enjoy her newfound fame, which I’m sure is very relatable to all the mommy vloggers out there. 🙄
Lively is back in “full-on comic-inflected femme fatale mode,” which basically means she’s wearing ridiculous outfits and being passive-aggressive. She “makes an impact,” which I’m sure is code for “overacts terribly.” But hey, at least there’s a “healthy vein of vulnerability” in both leads. Because nothing says “relatable” like a pair of glamorous criminals. 🙄🙄
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
