I’m not going to lie, there’s something supremely attractive about women being unhinged in a self-aware comedy that doesn’t bother trying to make sense, and I’m here for it. When A Simple Favor came out in 2018, I was genuinely bewildered to see Blake Lively star in a film such as this one, but to be fair, I couldn’t see anyone else step into the boots of a bespoke suit-wearing baddie sister-killer. Oops, spoiler for A Simple Favor, though I don’t think you’d be reading this if you hadn’t seen that. While the first film focused on building a relationship between two women who were complete opposites of each other, Stephanie, the nerd with a mommy vlog, and Emily, a con artist who worked in PR with no qualms, the second film fleshes out the best parts of this relationship in the funniest ways without really caring how it gets there. I mean, it’s a match made in heaven.
Another Simple Favor takes things up a notch by bringing the duo to Capri, Italy, for a mob wedding like no other. It’s been 5 years since Emily and Stephanie last saw each other, and Emily’s meant to be serving time in prison, but somehow she’s out stomping all over Stephanie’s book launch in her stunning crystal heels. If you’ve seen the trailer, the next thing you know is that Emily invites Stephanie to be her maid of honor at her wedding with Dante, a super hot guy, and Stephanie can’t help but think there’s a secret agenda at play here. Of course, Emily has a foolproof plan; Stephanie gets sued by her if she doesn’t show up, so why would the poor gal miss out on an Italian holiday? Tomfoolery ensues.
You know it’s going to be a good time if the film opens with Miss Anna Kendrick talking to moms through a vlog, stating that she’s not dead just yet. It’s a shame we don’t get as much French music to keep our spirits up, but I’m not complaining because the music is still amusing. There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about the way these movies are made, which makes them all the more enjoyable. I’m not going to sit here and tell you that the thrilling bits all make sense and that there aren’t any plot holes, because they’re plentiful. But it doesn’t matter, because we’re genuinely here for the homoerotic tension between these two leading ladies, which is off the charts, even when they’re talking about killing each other or sending the other to prison. It’s a fine line, you know?
Clearly, this franchise is banking on the almost “will they won’t they” vibe of these leading ladies in the best way. There’s no need to care about who dies, who killed them, or why; what really matters here is how Emily and Stephanie go off on each other like fiery hot sauce on your burrito. Look, there are going to be some things that are way too strange and don’t make any sense, but we walk past them like a bad outfit on a Sunday morning, averting our gaze and not commenting.
I know these films are made by a man, and occasionally, they do feel a little bit baity; however, I can’t help but feel this is one for the girls only. We’ve got the hot men in Henry Golding and Michelle Morrone; take your pick, ladies, because you’re getting some good action this time around, and then there’s the gay best friend in Darren. Then there are the incredibly chic outfits that Emily has been wearing since 2018. I’m sorry, she made “office siren” a thing before it was a thing. But most importantly, the jokes are completely unhinged and feel almost like they were cooked up in 2018. What I mean by that is that it doesn’t seem like anyone is holding back.
This isn’t Bridesmaids-like slapstick; it’s more nuanced, with a few Easter eggs connecting to the first film, which I loved. Of course, I can’t talk about this film without talking about the cast, without going into personal stuff, might I add. There’s no denying that Blake Lively looks her absolute best in a pantsuit, but we do get to see her in some other delicious outfits too, and you know, that’s the whole point if you ask me. Yes, she’s great in this role too. I feel like a lot of the meanness comes naturally to her, but don’t quote me on that. On the other hand, Anna Kendrick is the star of this franchise. Whatever happens, you’re going to want to root for her, no matter how confused your brain is. I genuinely enjoy her overzealous Americanness and the way she’s like a weird extension of Beca from Pitch Perfect. I’ve got to admit, seeing Henry Golding go off when he’s piss-drunk was not on my 2025 bingo card, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
But the real superstar of this film has to be the chemistry between Emily and Stephanie, because without it, there would be no favors. From the way they look at each other to the way they rip each other apart with their words, everything feels deliberate and only slightly too sexual. What kind of game are you playing? Anyway, if you think a combination of sexy French cinema and American satire is something that’ll float your boat, then I highly recommend Another Simple Favor. Make sure to leave your brains behind and just enjoy the ride. Plus, the film ends at the iconic fountain from Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, if you want to make your cinephile friend point at the screen and talk about an “absolute classic.”
I’m not going to lie, I haven’t felt this amused by a comedy movie in recent years, just because everything feels either like a try-hard or just plain boring. I can’t deny I thoroughly enjoyed Another Simple Favor, and if the sound of any of what I said makes you feel even remotely eager to watch it, then do, because I don’t think you’d regret it. I mean, you’ll get to see some really good outfits at least? There’s some nudity, lots of profanity, violence, and mention of violence, so watch with caution. I will give Another Simple Favor 3.5 out of 5 stars. What can I say? I just love Anna Kendrick (women).
