Another Simple Favor - Review

Rating: 3 out of 5

TALK about style over substance… Paul Feig’s extravagant sequel to his 2018 hit comedy-thriller, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, ups the twists, the high fashion and the exotic locations.

But what it boasts in eye candy, it lacks in depth despite the best efforts of its talented leading ladies and wider ensemble (which includes Allison Janney, Henry Golding and Elizabeth Perkins).

Picking up five years after the events of the original, the opening sequence finds Kendrick’s blogger turner crime solving author Stephanie locked up in her Italian hotel room, live streaming her latest predicament that has found her suspected of murder. But who died? And how did she become implicated? The film subsequently flashes back to show how she gets there.

This obviously involves the return of Lively’s Emily, released from prison and determined to reconnect with her best friend - despite knowing that it was Stephanie who slept with her husband and sent her behind bars in the first place. Claiming to have forgiven, if not forgotten, Emily invites Stephanie to be maid of honour at her forthcoming wedding to an Italian mob heir named Dante (Michele Morrone) in Capri.

Yet while there’s a simmering tension between the two women, Emily’s wedding is rife with other rivalries - from the uneasy truce that exists between Dante’s crime family and his nearest rivals, to the presence of two mothers who would rather not see the nuptials go ahead. And then there’s Emily’s ex, Sean (Golding), now a sorry drunk, whose subsequent death sets in motion the murderous antics that ensue.

As with the original movie, Another Simple Favor thrives on its ability to keep audiences guessing - something that returning co-writers Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis have a certain amount of fun doing.

Can Emily be trusted? What’s her real motivation? Does she really love Dante? Who will live to tell the tale? And how many more secrets are stored in Emily’s locker?

Yet while there’s plenty of story to pick over, Another Simple Favor tries to have its [wedding] cake and eat it, leaving audiences dazzled, occasionally feeling like they’re on a wild sugar rush, but ultimately sick and bloated.

Simply put, there’s perhaps too much going on. The plot becomes needlessly complex and more than a little contrived - as revelations involving triplets, secret affairs, family deception and more jostle for space amid the core relationship of the film: the friendship between Emily and Stephanie.

Ironic, then, that the film works best when stripping things down to just that: with Lively and Kendrick picking up on their chemistry from the first film and imbuing it with more threat; an unease born out of distrust that still comes with a sprinkling of mutual respect.

A scene between the two of them at a poolside hen party is particularly memorable and allows both to really explore their characters. But they enjoy plenty of exchanges throughout - with Lively positively relishing the chance to get in some delicious barbs.

Elsewhere, Feig’s film works best as a visual treat - from the attractive cast to the flamboyant fashions (Lively gets to done a scene stealing hat, on one occasion, that she actually found herself while shopping on the island). Capri’s stunning backdrop also offers its own kind of appeal (bookings may well soar).

But take away the eye candy and Another Simple Favor flatters to deceive. The script isn’t quite as sharp or clever as it thinks it is, and can sometimes be unnecessarily coarse sexually. Characters are largely difficult to like and feel exaggerated, in keeping with the overall tone.

The third act parade of twists also feels confused and silly, while the decision to set up a possible third film by throwing in a last gasp tease also feels indulgent.

Feig, by virtue of past films such as Spy, Bridesmaids and even his Ghostbusters reboot (of which I remain a fan), is always a director worth checking out. And there are certainly flourishes here. But when all’s said and done, Another Simple Favor is neither as funny nor as emotionally engaging as any of his best work.