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6

tropicAcesSep 15, 2018

Fun at times and Lively turns in a darkly comedic performance, it’s just the film thinks it’s a little more smart and Gone Girl-esque than it actually is...

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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9

GnillepsSep 15, 2018

It's like someone said "Allison (from Orphan Black) needs her own movie..." and what we got was Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively killing it.

Everyone has chemistry and the movie is Laugh Out Loud funny from beginning to end. I could hear allIt's like someone said "Allison (from Orphan Black) needs her own movie..." and what we got was Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively killing it.

Everyone has chemistry and the movie is Laugh Out Loud funny from beginning to end. I could hear all the surprised people leaving the theater like 'THAT was a good show'

It's not super deep, it's a light hearted noir with a touch of Hitchcock suspense.… Expand

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10

AsherHellSep 14, 2018

I really enjoyed every minute of this movie. Well acted, the story is good and it all fit together very nicely. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie before it get's spoiled for you...

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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9

ProteusSep 14, 2018

Comedy folks. And it all works thanks to the superb 2 female leads. The fashion is simply outstanding. If you like seeing stunning fresh lovely dresses on clever movie stars giving unique comedic performances....and you absolutely SHOULDComedy folks. And it all works thanks to the superb 2 female leads. The fashion is simply outstanding. If you like seeing stunning fresh lovely dresses on clever movie stars giving unique comedic performances....and you absolutely SHOULD like those things...then see this movie.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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9

GinaKSep 18, 2018

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It is fast-paced, witty, and full of surprises. The cast was excellent, especially Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, both of whom were fun to watch and totally believable in this twisty comedy. Henry GoldingI thoroughly enjoyed this film. It is fast-paced, witty, and full of surprises. The cast was excellent, especially Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, both of whom were fun to watch and totally believable in this twisty comedy. Henry Golding gives another elegant comic performance, just as he did in Crazy Rich Asians. A great summer “escape” film to make you forget the awful heat and humidity outside. I look forward to seeing these three accomplished comic actors in another film soon. Or seeing them in this film again on DVD.… Expand

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3

DenissenSep 19, 2018

What was meant to be a noir/comedy thriller, is lacking in suspense, humor, and interesting story line. The start off the movie had potential for an twisted rendezvous between two women with odd backgrounds, but ends in an obvious and dullWhat was meant to be a noir/comedy thriller, is lacking in suspense, humor, and interesting story line. The start off the movie had potential for an twisted rendezvous between two women with odd backgrounds, but ends in an obvious and dull ending. Personally the movie felt uninspiring and just tedious.… Expand

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6

NavyBeanSep 17, 2018

Not bad. But plot holes and inexplicable behavior abound. The performances are all really good and I like the little kid who curses a lot. Anna Kendrick is super cute and funny and one day we will be married but Blake Lively is a bit much andNot bad. But plot holes and inexplicable behavior abound. The performances are all really good and I like the little kid who curses a lot. Anna Kendrick is super cute and funny and one day we will be married but Blake Lively is a bit much and her character hedges too much.… Expand

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7

BrianMcCriticSep 22, 2018

A unique film that kept me interested from start to finish. Both Kendrick and Lively give great performances especially Blake Lively who's comedic ability shines through here. Big credit to Director Paul Feig as well who is able to mix genreA unique film that kept me interested from start to finish. Both Kendrick and Lively give great performances especially Blake Lively who's comedic ability shines through here. Big credit to Director Paul Feig as well who is able to mix genre and tones quite nicely here which isn't that easy. Overall this was a good time and a high 7 a B+.… Expand

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8

moviecritic68Sep 26, 2018

Bravo for such an original screenplay which elevated my grade but at the same time I thought there were too many spit balls thrown at the wall to try to fill in space.

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3

TrevorsViewSep 20, 2018

Sure, it’s got lots of pretty clothes that would be the hotspot sale on Black Friday. Sure, it’s got Anna Kendrick, whom many say is a role model because of her outer beauty. But you know what? Neither of those things matter, because they’reSure, it’s got lots of pretty clothes that would be the hotspot sale on Black Friday. Sure, it’s got Anna Kendrick, whom many say is a role model because of her outer beauty. But you know what? Neither of those things matter, because they’re relied on to hold up a film high in fructose. The sugar of A Simple Favor may taste sweet, except the rush of its evil intentions churns regret once your health turns detrimental after swallowing its poorly put together eye candy.

At least the candy does look sweet in its display case; the makeup crew demonstrate tremendous effort to bring out Anna Kendrick’s beauty with or without mascara. The costume designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus (The Cider House Rules, Hidden Figures) also complements the Pitch Perfect star well while keeping it supportive toward the narrative. Kalfus dresses Anna in a big yellow jacket to divert our attention from any covered-up intentions, just one of the many popping colors that complement the film’s desired retro style. The look remains consistent right from the opening credits that flash against zesty Spanish music, carrying on these sharp colors to contrast two sides of our ideal 2018 American woman.

On one end, there are Anna Kendrick’s cutesy Pinterest mom DIY projects. On the other, there is Blake Lively’s aesthetics of a woman paid more than a man. Now as for the costar’s character, Blake first appears with high heels pounding on wet cement, a growing image of sophistication that still can’t match the size of her secretive closet. Between these two, they supposedly become close friends after knowing each other for just a couple of days, as represented by a friendship bracelet Anna makes for Blake. No, it doesn’t matter if Blake has a painting of her “pet beaver” in the living room, there’s just something about these two that meshes well.
There’s where the problem with this film starts.

The two leads’ “close” friendship of what looks like two days is never believable, mainly because of the awful writing void of any believable grief that gives neither actress any depth to work off. Blake Lively’s character is merely overpowered, but even if this had the best writer in the world, it wouldn’t help much. Blake just puts on her own show without any chemistry with anyone in the cast. Odds are, she decided to play a mother who chugs alcohol around little kids by merely acting as if drunk on a typical Saturday night.

In fact, there was probably some alcohol hopping all over the sets during the production, as it appears these producers like to annihilate a child’s innocence by making one little boy drop an F-bomb hard. That’s fine if it serves story purpose, except it doesn’t, it just comes off forced and lazy, and nobody seemed to bother giving the child actor any context of what he was screaming.

There literally is no other attention to story anywhere else, as one missed opportunity for clever symbolism sticks out: after one police officer mentions following metaphorical bread crumbs to solve a case, the very next scene features Caesar salad with bread crumbs in it. It tries to connect to a Hansel & Gretel scenario where Anna feels like the two children inside Blake the witch’s mega-expensive gingerbread house of a home, unfortunately that piece of symbolism has no payoff. In addition, many unnecessary flashbacks get explained again the same way immediately after thrown into the final edit. As if the storytelling isn’t lazy enough, Anna claims to be a “struggling” single mom—yet can purchase expensive technology for her mommy vlog… and the occasional spy equipment. Can’t make this stuff up, folks!

In most every role Anna plays nowadays, she’s either a clueless love interest (like in The Accountant) or “Slutty McSlut-slut,” (like in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates) but here, Anna combines the cluelessness with the sex-object in a way that thinks it’s so classy. Part of the problem is that most of the project’s other creative minds have comedic backgrounds, resulting in a collaborated direction that moves too quick, and Anna, unfortunately, being the leading role, gets the last laugh. If these producers wanted to cast her purely for the marketing, they didn’t even do that right! Case in point: the little black dress Anna wears in the poster is never shown in the movie itself—just a longer version of it. Hey, got to show those legs to lure in those box office numbers!

There truly is evil lurking everywhere in this wannabee thriller with an ultimate intent on not suspense, but advertising whatever the celebs are wearing. So, do yourself A Simple Favor by avoiding this Macy’s commercial.… Expand

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6

TVJerrySep 18, 2018

Anna Kendrick plays a sweet mom who gets embroiled in a murderous mystery, when her new friend (Blake Lively) disappears. Both women create fun characters (and wear some great looks), but the plot's twists aren't really that surprising, atAnna Kendrick plays a sweet mom who gets embroiled in a murderous mystery, when her new friend (Blake Lively) disappears. Both women create fun characters (and wear some great looks), but the plot's twists aren't really that surprising, at least not the way director Paul Fieg stages them. He's best known for his comedies featuring strong women ("Bridesmaids," "Ghostbusters," and "Spy"), but this foray into darker realms is more lighthearted than tense. Even though it's seldom truly funny, it still manages to be entertaining in a fun, frothy style.… Expand

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8

preciouskikiSep 25, 2018

Fun movie! Stylishly done; amusing; gorgeous to look at with great-looking clothes, houses and humans; and with more tart twists than a barful of perfectly chilled Martinis, "A Simple Favor" is a very entertaining popcorn thriller. GoodFun movie! Stylishly done; amusing; gorgeous to look at with great-looking clothes, houses and humans; and with more tart twists than a barful of perfectly chilled Martinis, "A Simple Favor" is a very entertaining popcorn thriller. Good soundtrack, too. One tiny critique: For me, towards the end, some of the twists came so quickly that my feeble little brain was spinning. I wished they had spent a little more time on them... Cuz I was a little like "Wait, what?!?" The switcheroos were zooming by like Vroom--Vroom--Vroom! And OK, I will admit: I got home and Googled the synopsis to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Vanity Fair had an article called "About that ending...," so I don't feel too bad about feeling a little fuzzy-headed. Perhaps the book was a little more elucidating, I dunno. But I loved it!… Expand

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7

GreatMartinSep 25, 2018

Do you like a comedy/mystery or a mystery/comedy? How about a fashion show with Blake Lively wearing more sharp 3 piece suits than any man has ever worn in one movie? Why not a modern home that just yells “MONEY”? Anything against a cute boyDo you like a comedy/mystery or a mystery/comedy? How about a fashion show with Blake Lively wearing more sharp 3 piece suits than any man has ever worn in one movie? Why not a modern home that just yells “MONEY”? Anything against a cute boy using the F word and getting laughs? How about a ‘better than you will ever be’ fashion designer? How about all these in one movie?

In “A Simple Favor” over volunteering single mother Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is thrilled to be befriended by successful, busy Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) and is more than willing to pick up her son after school which soon becomes a habit. It doesn’t take long for one day Emily does not show up to pick up her son and, after 4 days, Stephanie not only becomes a mother to Emily’s son and become concerned about Emily’s husband Sean (Henry Golding) but also decides to search for her friend.

“A Simple Favor” is not only about a murder, husbands, wives, friends, kids but also having fun watching a movie, being confused by what is happening, not being sure what happened and leaving the theatre with a smile on your face, not caring that you really didn’t understand all that went on and fifteen minutes later forgetting all about it.

Anna Kendrick, as Stephanie, who does a home vlog every day, has that goofy act down to the point that gets every laugh, even those not written in the script by Jessica Sharzer. Blake Lively as Emily has different looks in the movie aided by costume designer that keeps your eye on her and makes her believable whatever persona she chooses. Henry Golding, in this his second movie, shows he was no fluke in “Crazy Rich Asians” and looks better in jeans than any man has a right to!

Joshua Satine as Stephanie’s son and Ian Ho as Emily’s kid with the potty mouth are fun while Andrew Rannells as one of the parents at school aids and abets Anna Kendrick in the comedy department while Bashir Salahuddin as a detective, Rupert Friend, as that snobby fashion designer and Jean Smart in her second blink and you’ll miss her appearance all make this a comedy/mystery and mystery/comedy movie.

I recommend “A Simple Favor” if you want to have a laugh with Kendrick, watch Golding’s career rise, maybe have a martini served in a frozen glass and a lemon twist added with Lively or just a movie that asks you do nothing more than sit back, laugh and, maybe, figure out the twists and turns of a murder.… Expand

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7

Compi24Sep 25, 2018

Tonal inconsistencies and glaring "Gone Girl" parallels aside, I had a good amount of fun with "A Simple Favor," a comedic thriller from frequent Melissa McCarthy collaborator Paul Feig. Was this the correct project for him to direct? I'mTonal inconsistencies and glaring "Gone Girl" parallels aside, I had a good amount of fun with "A Simple Favor," a comedic thriller from frequent Melissa McCarthy collaborator Paul Feig. Was this the correct project for him to direct? I'm still not so sure, as there are -- as previously mentioned -- a number of elements here that just simply don't work together for me. This is much more of a thriller than a comedy, as the comedic stylings seem almost randomly placed into certain scenes to offset a lot of the dramatic intrigue. And it just doesn't gel together. This should have been a straight-laced thriller. But, even if that were the case, you'd end up running into a bigger version of the other problem with this movie -- this is supremely similar to "Gone Girl." There's even a scene in here that's borderline lifted from that film. Again, this isn't perfect, but it is fun, featuring terrific chemistry between Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, and a real neat final act.… Expand

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5

pnoyfilmtvadikSep 24, 2018

Kendrick! Hands down got this film up and going almost the whole entire movie. But I dont think this movie deserves the rating that its getting simply because it is not intelligent enough to be a mystery nor is it scary enough to be aKendrick! Hands down got this film up and going almost the whole entire movie. But I dont think this movie deserves the rating that its getting simply because it is not intelligent enough to be a mystery nor is it scary enough to be a thriller and definitely not funny enough to be a comedy.… Expand

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8

alejandro970Oct 6, 2018

Thriller that involves a mixtures of genres, in way witty. Could been better if not for the overused trick of the evil twin sisters. The final act make you wonder of what genre belongs actually, or shall to watch again.

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8

Davrosdaleks1Sep 16, 2018

I wasn't initially going to see this. I'd been let down by similar neonoir mystery dramas before. (Felt Gone Girl was just okay and Girl on a Train was disappointing.) Then I heard the positive reviews and changed my mind. I'm glad I did.I wasn't initially going to see this. I'd been let down by similar neonoir mystery dramas before. (Felt Gone Girl was just okay and Girl on a Train was disappointing.) Then I heard the positive reviews and changed my mind. I'm glad I did.

Director Paul Feig took the story from what appears to be a more serious book with very mixed reviews on Amazon.com and added humor and a bit of fun to the proceedings. The dark parts are appropriately lurid, but this isn't a dire slog. Witty dialogue and a game cast alleviate the proceedings.

Although Blake Lively does a great job as the mysterious woman who goes missing (and hats off to whoever designed her clothes, they are fantastic), this is Anna Kendricks' film. As the slightly oddball, mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers, Kendricks has the part nailed down a both physically and verbally as she quirkily deals with people.

There are a couple flaws. The switch between drama and humor is a little jarring a in a few spots. The second act drags a little, and a few character decisions in the third act were rushed a bit.

Overall, I'd recommend this.… Expand

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4

JLuis_001Sep 26, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Paul Feig makes it clear once again how limited is as a filmmaker and his biggest mistakes here is that he never seems to be sure of what he wanted to do.

A Simple Favor combines drama, mystery, crime, comedy and suspense in a plot that revolves all those elements but never manages to follow a straight path to be able to direct itself towards something more cohesive and therefore much more entertaining.

Very soon I notice that the plot twists are done more to keep you attentive than because they're really necessary and at all times they feel forced and frankly lacking the dramatic weight and surprising effect they think they have.

The main actresses? They're maybe the biggest disappointments. Even if we consider the completely lack of chemistry between both of them. The worst is their personality.

Anna Kendrick character is downright foolish and almost the whole film she plays the typical single mother who tries to be friendly and quirky but who also has a dark side and usually takes the reins of the situation when the situation involves sex as shown by the two sequences in which she sleeps with her half brother and her "friend's" husband but something else? No, the character is as simplistic as it is predictable.

Blake Lively tries to bring more attitude to the scenes but in all the moments in which her character presses and becomes more somber it seems a huge copy of what Rosemund Pike did with Amy Elliott in Gone Girl. Pike did it much better and in a much better film.

Honestly for me there was nothing special in this film. Beyond my disappointment, it seemed an incredibly boring experience that was neither funny nor dramatic nor mysterious enough to compensate for the time invested.… Expand

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8

tonyyanSep 22, 2018

I seriously enjoyed this dark-twisted-comedic thriller. It gives me a strange mixed feeling like Martini and I loved it! Anna and Blake kill their scenes. ****

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7

JokohamaOct 21, 2018

First 1/3 is slow. Middle 1/3 is mildly interesting. Last 1/3 is just comical.

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9

BradleyJordanOct 10, 2018

OMG, I was so expecting an high sixty or low seventy movie, I loved it. The writing, the acting, was great. The way the two main women characters played against each other was brilliant. The movie was much funnier than I expected and a lotOMG, I was so expecting an high sixty or low seventy movie, I loved it. The writing, the acting, was great. The way the two main women characters played against each other was brilliant. The movie was much funnier than I expected and a lot less of a thriller. I walked out of the movie with my friend who dragged me out to see it, and we were both amazed about how we both underestimated the movie, both really enjoyed it. I hope people give this movie a chance, and then give this movie the reviews it deserves.… Expand

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6

amheretojudgeSep 22, 2018

to walk that thin line between sinister ideology and sketchy sequences..

A Simple Favor A Simple Favor is a plot driven dark comic thriller about two newly befriended eerie mothers through their kids, whose chemistry results into explosionto walk that thin line between sinister ideology and sketchy sequences..

A Simple Favor

A Simple Favor is a plot driven dark comic thriller about two newly befriended eerie mothers through their kids, whose chemistry results into explosion of cheats and tricks and even death. The chemistry is off the hook, it is almost like a dream team waiting to be allotted in a project, Kendrick and Lively are electrifying whenever they are on screen, they are funny and equally scary. This deeply sinister genre fuels on nothing but perspective, with a twisted mind set, it not only sets all the chess pieces accordingly, but draws in the most unexpected cards under its sleeves with justification and of course slick panache that makes you nod, in its self-created web of lies, on beat. Somehow, the combination of music and references to all the recipes goes well, Kendrick has the range to act like a typical overprotecting mom and obviously to rap with a mic-drop attitude that she has been carrying since Pitch Perfect. If actually taken into consideration, she sticks by on each frame of the feature and pulls it off all on her shoulder without even flinching for a split second. She learns fast, she takes time, she argues on petty thing and she cracks lame jokes, Kendrick is in her A game and this time she has got this three dimensional character that she is drunk on. On the other hand, Lively feels shadowed in Kendrick's footsteps, no matter how much power her character must possess, she somehow never feels the one in charge. The conversations are pragmatic, even the murmurings and tiny notions creates an everlasting impression, especially in its initial stages. The narration often surfs through various periods and is almost busy in itself to wait and breathe it all in, and this is where Feig comes in, his finesse on weaving out a nail-biting confrontation or close calls amps up this somewhat scattered script. Fieg has always had the potential to walk that thin line between sinister ideology and sketchy sequences, and this time he is armed with too much content to handle. His actual job in here is to extract all the crispy material and offer it a more personal touch to connect with the viewers, and he has brimmed the entire feature with such husky bits. The songs are up beating, the sound editing is impressive if not the background score, the cinematography is decent along with the editing and has calm and soothing camera work with stunning bright visuals. The narrative is gripping, adaptive and can be inedible at times, but the correct advice would be to nod along since most of the skipped steps are later closed in by accounting it into a circle. The tightly packed screenplay that keeps enfolding newer perspective and revealing and appealing characters as it ages on screen, Kendrick at the heart of it whose range never disappoints us and, Feig's long lasting passion whose euphoric energy never wears off in any frame, are the high points of the feature. A Simple Favor is neither simple nor a favor, it is convoluted to the core and a generous gift by Feig to these genre lovers.… Expand

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7

DufreshestSep 20, 2018

A Simple Favor has funny punches which the acting partners deliver well. The cinematography is fine. In "Style and Medium in the Motion Pictures" Erwin Panofsky poses, "…that the screenplay, in contrast to the theater play, has no aestheticA Simple Favor has funny punches which the acting partners deliver well. The cinematography is fine. In "Style and Medium in the Motion Pictures" Erwin Panofsky poses, "…that the screenplay, in contrast to the theater play, has no aesthetic existence independent of its performance, and that its characters have no aesthetic existence outside the actors," which I think is an interesting and valid point that I will make sure to more consciously consider with every viewing of a film.

Do I completely ignore the female body throughout the film? No, I'm not going to. There are a lot of pretty, beautiful, and gorgeous women in the world, for a variety of their reasons. Yet, attraction needs assistance. I'm a single male. The song "Man in Me" by The Persuasions comes to mind whenever I think of Blake Lively playing her role in the film, not because she is doing that for me, but because it'll be amazing to attribute that song to a woman that does (in accompaniment with "Do It Again" by The Staple Singers) affect me in such a way (not in the conniving-illegal-murderous sense).

A Simple Favor touches on very sensitive topics such as alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, debt, fraud, incest, illegitimate children, and childhood in a touch-and-go comical-drama-full whirlwind. The story is decent though seems to scatter about in a way that still makes sense (because it's like a walk through of a to be mystery with surprises as no surprises bent on surprises…yeah). A Simple Favor is an awkward film that really has a way of crushing vices.

I think the film uses hysteria to flirt with its audience members. The film gets messy (which makes sense in accordance with context), and I think another title may be more suitable. Nonetheless, A Simple Favor is entertaining.

Overall Grade: C+/B-

- K.D.

If you're into Poetry and other bits of creativity, check out my Instagram: @Dufreshest.… Expand

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5

JDX_AwesomeOct 11, 2018

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really didn’t want to see this movie, and I had very low expectations thanks to Paul Feig’s feminist ghost movie. It was better than I expected, I can say that. A few of the jokes made me chuckle, and some things that weren’t jokes made me chuckle. I was really excited that this was going to be really good once the opening started with the song and the appealing and stylized visuals, and then it immediately cuts to Anna Kendrick’s character making a vlog for moms. That’s the thing about this movie, every time it did something I liked, something else either undercut it or just made it worse overall. It has a lot of good ideas that I would love to see done differently and, frankly, better. This movie does have a decent style to it though. I like the scenes that are completely silent flashbacks except for one or two characters telling the story of what’s happening or just talking over it. The plot was really stupid and complicated for no reason. I found myself totally lost multiple times. And just to be clear, a movie can have a complicated plot if it’s explained well, otherwise, it’s just confusing. The dialogue is pretty cringe at times as well. It’s not always awful, but it’s not great overall. Also, the characters are actually not total idiots, which I did like. But the characters do change their minds pretty frequently for no reason except because the script said so. For example, Blake Lively’s character’s husband switches between Lively and Kendrick every ten minutes and it’s really distracting. Also, he fakes being with one or the other, but the actor does a terrible job of conveying this, so you never really know what’s going on with him. Not only is he not great in this movie, but I personally think Kendrick should stick with comedies. She’s not bad here, but definitely not good. I thought Lively was good though. Oh, also, I thought the scene with Lively’s character throwing the wrench up and hitting herself with it was done terribly and I laughed really hard. The wrench was falling way too slow to look even close to right. You should have enough time to put on a necklace as a wrench is falling from that height onto your eye. Also, I don’t know how many people could throw a wrench that high. I couldn’t. And here aim must be amazing to get it exactly where she wants it. And how did know it wasn’t gonna land wrong and just permanently mess her face up really badly? This scene is an example of how, besides the plot and dialogue, it’s just the little things that make this movie worse they it could be. If a different director made this movie, it could’ve been pretty good in every sense of the word.… Expand

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9

WonderZOct 9, 2018

This movie felt like a crime thriller mixed with a cartoonish vibe and I am here for it. Paired with a great soundtrack, A Simple Favor guarantees a deliciously entertaining night. Highly recommend watching it with boxxy software.

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7

Bertaut1Oct 1, 2018

Examining the rotten core beneath the surface urbanity of suburbia is something that has attracted filmmakers as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Joe Dante, Gus Van Sant, and Frank Oz. More recently, novels such as Gillian Flynn'sExamining the rotten core beneath the surface urbanity of suburbia is something that has attracted filmmakers as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock, David Lynch, Joe Dante, Gus Van Sant, and Frank Oz. More recently, novels such as Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, have expanded and popularised the suburban noir; the very genre that A Simple Favour's satirical excesses primarily target. However, the film has an undeniable identity crisis due to its genre mash-up characteristics (it's a comic/satirical suburban noir murder mystery thriller). Although director Paul Feig proves adept at handling the parodic side of things, in the latter stages, he tries to ensure the film can exist (relatively) un-ironically within the very genre it's attempting to lampoon. Despite this schizophrenic quality, however, the interplay between the two leads, the heavy stylisation, the playfully self-aware nature of the aesthetic, and the success of the burlesque elements all serve to make the film undeniably entertaining.

A Simple Favour is at its best when working as a parody/satire of suburban-based "mommy murder mysteries". For example, the three main characters are all standard generic templates to the point of cliché; the ingénue who feels honour-bound to do everything she can to find the truth, no matter the cost, ultimately learning as much about herself as anything else; the sardonic, caustic, and utterly shady plot catalyst, who always seems to have an ace up her sleeve and always seems to know more than anyone else; and, the brilliant but frustrated spouse who may, or may not, be in on the crime at the narrative's centre. However, their archetypal characteristics are dialled up to such a degree, that they can't help but seem caricatures.

Opening with a late 1960s Europop-influenced Saul Bass-esque title sequence complete with sliding split-screens and pastel colours, scored to Jean Paul Keller's 1967 "Ca s'est arrange", the film signals its playful tone right from the off. This stylisation is perhaps seen most clearly upon Emily's introduction. As Stephanie shelters from the rain, Emily emerges from a car in slow motion, with the camera starting on her feet before slowly moving up to her head as she raises an umbrella. Cutting to a mid-shot, she then begins to walk across the carpark (still in slow motion), as a broken umbrella blows past her, replacing the tumbleweed of a classic western shootout. The visual design of the scene is predicated on cine-literacy, showing that the filmmakers know how to employ standard genre tropes for comedic effect.

Another element of this awareness is the use of a fractured narrative structure and unreliable narrators, so beloved of classic noir mysteries. The film gets significant mileage out of scenes where the aural narration doesn't even come close to matching the visuals. An especially funny example of this is when Stephanie tells Emily about kissing her step-brother after their father's funeral, and Emily immediately knows she is lying that she only kissed him. Whilst the narrator (Stephanie) flat-out denies she slept with him, the audience sees them having sex, confirming the narratee's (Emily) suspicions.

If there was one element that didn't work, however, it was the mystery plot. Yes, I get that it's all a satire of the multi-twist-for-twist's-sake suburban murder mystery, however, the satirical underpinning doesn't change the fact that the entire mystery at the film's centre is insipid, uninteresting, and predictable, whilst Feig seems unable to bridge the tone of the frothier comic moments and the darker ones. Feig tries to mix scenes of outright comedy with predominantly serious scenes devoid of laughter, and it doesn't work. For example, the film features a scene in which someone who has just been ploughed by a car and is trying to crawl away is nonchalantly told if they don't stop, they're going to hurt their knees. That's pretty dark, but it's also pretty funny. However, it comes only a short while after a scene in which a drug-addict is held under the water and drowned. If scenes of this nature are supposed to be satiric, and hence feed into the film's engagement with the suburban noir, I couldn't see any evidence of it.

For all that, however, I found A Simple Favour enjoyable. The purely-satirical early scenes earn enough goodwill so that the less successful more plot-heavy later scenes don't completely tear the whole thing down. The film as a whole shines a not unwelcome light on the increasingly self-important suburban noir, and for the most part, the parody is very well judged. When the comedy is forced to retreat in the service of more serious material, the tonal balance is definitely knocked off, as the film comes dangerously close to valorising that which it has set out to mock. Despite this, however, it remains entertaining - it won't change your life, but it's a very rewarding couple of hours.… Expand

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8

GrachechkovskiSep 27, 2018

I can't remember movie like it where it has a relevant humor and jokes with a wonderful narrative and thriller's side. It was a interesting film with the ambiguous ending that seems as real story

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8

JackusBlackusSep 28, 2018

I found the movie to be very enjoyable, though it has rough patches with stilted dialog and some difficult-to-swallow moments.

Otherwise, Anna Kendrick is quirky and Blake Lively is hot, and that's about all that can be said about the movieI found the movie to be very enjoyable, though it has rough patches with stilted dialog and some difficult-to-swallow moments.

Otherwise, Anna Kendrick is quirky and Blake Lively is hot, and that's about all that can be said about the movie without spoiling it.… Expand

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5

clarkaddisonSep 19, 2018

I enjoyed this film as a mindless audience member. Each thrill and twist made me animate emotions really well. At the end of the day though, it wasn’t a solid film. That is contradicting but, what I think most audiences and critics can agreeI enjoyed this film as a mindless audience member. Each thrill and twist made me animate emotions really well. At the end of the day though, it wasn’t a solid film. That is contradicting but, what I think most audiences and critics can agree on is that the first half or so is brilliant then it starts going off the rails. I can`t put my finger on it but some things just don’t click together. The three main actors do click and do act their collective cute fox socks off but it’s something with the writing and how everything gets ended in the third act. One of my favorite thrillers is Disturbia from 2007, it starred Shia LaBeouf. It was a perfect thriller. Sure, it was a horror thriller while a Simple Favor is I guess a comedy-thriller. Disturbia goes along perfectly on one linear path. Get evidence to convict a serial killer. There are tiny branches of plot that help the movie along or make our heroes path more complicated. In A Simple Favor, there are so many branches that extend from this movie`s main plot. A incest bastard child, child abuse, murder, arson, lesbian romance, affairs, after funeral sexy time. Everything I mentioned is a critical plot point that needs to happen so this film can have its outcome. It`s too much. This film`s ending is too much. Character actions don’t make sense at times. There are a lot of implied situations that could have been useful if someone just said it out loud to help some of the audience.… Expand

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6

NG89Sep 19, 2018

IF you don't mind the thriller>comedy bait&switch, ASF is surely entertaining and has its moments of suspense; an easy watch.

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8

MarceloPazOct 5, 2018

I miss the films like that, they did a great script. The cast was ok but overall a good movie

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6

SaraClementsOct 15, 2018

Suburban noir has become a big draw for book and film lovers alike. Ever since Amy Dunne declared “I’m so much happier now that I’m dead,” few have tried and failed to recreate Gone Girl’s genius. Comedy god Paul Feig’s newest film isSuburban noir has become a big draw for book and film lovers alike. Ever since Amy Dunne declared “I’m so much happier now that I’m dead,” few have tried and failed to recreate Gone Girl’s genius. Comedy god Paul Feig’s newest film is irresistible, but misses some steps on its way up to Gone Girl-level brilliance.

A Simple Favor follows the dark relationship between mom opposites Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively). Stephanie, the single mommy vlogger, is quickly seduced by Emily’s rich lifestyle – in all her martini drinking, ’30s Marlene Dietrich glamour. When Emily disappears, Stephanie attempts to get to the bottom of what happened to her best friend – and whether Emily’s husband Sean (Henry Golding) had anything to do with it.

The film opens with Stephanie updating her vlog followers that Emily is still missing, five days since she asked Stephanie for “a simple favor” to pick up her son from school. The film then goes into flashback mode so she can explain to the audience what led up to Emily’s disappearance. Stephanie goes on her own investigation which involves her breaking into Emily’s work office, tracking down her parents, and paying a visit to the camp she spent her summers as a child.

Kendrick and Lively are both powerhouses here, with their conversations being the comedic highlight of the film. Kendrick’s Martha Stewart wannabe Stephanie embodies all of the cliches you can expect from a white mom. As the film goes on, Stephanie lets loose and, if you’re worried you’ll miss out on some Pitch Perfect Kendrick, Feig has you covered with Stephanie doing a hilarious rap. Lively shows here that she has a knack for the dramatic as the fashion PR executive. She exudes power and charm, with Emily’s matter-of-fact comedy delivered effortlessly. As for Henry Golding, he’s as hot and charming as he is in Crazy Rich Asians – what more do you need?

With a narrative full of noir elements, there are so many twists packed into the film’s two-hour running time. When you think you know where it’s going, Feig manages to hit the audience with more twists that make you unintentionally yell “what?!” at least 10 times along with the rest of the theatre crowd. All this leads to a conclusion to the Emily mystery that is nothing short of Feig style wackiness. However, having so many Hitchcockian twists coming at you so often and so quickly leads to a narrative that is more confusing than it is neat and tidy. To put it plainly: it’s an enjoyable, crazy mess. Its missteps can be attributed directly to the source material. Not to spoil anything, but there are certain choices made by Anna Kendrick’s character which would have been better off left to the source material because of how bizarre and “yikes!” they are.

Looking at Paul Feig’s filmography since Bridesmaids, it’s no surprise that he would eventually want to tackle a female-centric mystery thriller. To be expected from him, the film has many laughs, and surprisingly, they land and mesh well with the dark tone of the second half of the film. It’s twisted and raunchy, as all high budget Lifetime movies should be.… Expand

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