Director: Paul Feig
Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Eric Johnson, Jean Smart, Sarah Baker, Henry Golding
Running: 116m 42s
Release date: 21/09/2018
On the face of it, you would be forgiven for thinking this is just your average thriller/mystery film. It has all the right traits, a missing person, a friend turned detective and a close circle of suspects – but this is not NANCY DREW.
This is A SIMPLE FAVOUR, directed by Paul Feig who was at the helm of other female centred comedies like BRIDESMAIDS, SPY and THE HEAT. Feig knows how to bring out the best in his female actresses as Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively shine as their polar opposite characters form an unusual friendship.
Kendrick plays Stephanie, a single parent to her young son Miles (Joshua Satine). She is an overbearing and enthusiastic volunteer at her son’s school, always signing up for classroom activities – much to the annoyance of the other mums and dads. When she’s at home Stephanie tirelessly works on her vlog for all her mummy fans.
One afternoon whilst picking Miles up from school, he and his friend Nicky (Ian Ho) demand a play date. Whilst emerging from the car, one stiletto at a time, Nicky’s mum (a public relations executive for a fashion firm) otherwise known as Emily Nelson (Lively) struts through the school car park to meet her son. She towers over Stephanie and insists she comes over for a drink. One of the dads from school remarks that Emily will eat her alive, and he couldn’t be more right.
The two bond in Emily’s high-styled modern home where she lives with her novelist husband, Sean Townsend (Henry Golding from Crazy Rich Asians). An unfortunate role for the bland husband especially when the supporting cast is so strong with Bashir Salahuddin as the sarcastic Detective Summerville and Andrew Rannells as the bitchy dad from school.
Emily and Stephanie share dry martinis and secrets whilst Emily teaches her new friend never to apologize, “baby if you apologize again I’m going to have to slap the sorry out of you”. Lively’s exotic character draws you in with her sexy attitude and perfect martini recipe. Lively keeps a pout on her face for the duration of the film as she lures and intimidates Stephanie, even when she’s not around, her presence is felt. In contrast to the naïve and nerdy Stephanie who says ‘oopsie’ every time Emily or anyone else says a ‘bad word’.
Emily takes advantage of Stephanie’s naive nature and asks her friend for a ‘simple favour’, not wanting to disappoint, Stephanie agrees to pick Nicky up from school. However, three days later Emily is still nowhere to be seen.
Feig takes some time explaining the backstory of the unlikely friends but once Emily goes missing, the film turns up the pace as we delve into Emily and Stephanie’s past. Neither of them are squeaky clean, however, the motives of Stephanie (recently turned detective) are questioned when her relationship with Sean develops some blurred lines.
A Simple Favour takes some dramatic twists and turns until we reach the climatic conclusion which promises to please and leaves you with some guilty laughs.
The quick witted and often dark humour of the film carries A Simple Favour through to the end. It’s this redeeming quality that highlights Kendrick and Livley’s comedic talent. They skilfully deliver their punchy lines as Feig’s tantalizing comedy is simply a must see.
