[yasr_overall_rating]
“A Simple Favor” centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy blogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily’s (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town.
“A Simple Favor” stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in a whirlwind mystery that will keep you guessing from start to finish. In the fine tradition of “Deathtrap,” “A Simple Favor” boasts twists and turns aplenty in the nearly two-hour runtime.
The film is not so much a Who-Done-It as a Who-Done-What. The story repeatedly leads the audience down one path only to abruptly change directions and chart a new course. Reviewers will have to tread cautiously in order to avoid revealing any spoilers. Though we certainly suspect not all is as it seems, the surprises invariably come from unexpected directions. Plot elements aside, however, the real joy of the story comes predominantly from the confident performances by the two leads.
The movie opens innocently enough with some cute vlogs by Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers, a single mom who has the most creative, albeit extravagant ideas about homemaking and children’s activities. She is nothing if not perky, with more than enough enthusiasm to annoy and shame even the most accomplished of the other moms.
Stephanie meets Emily, played by Blake Lively, after school one day when their two kids beg for a playdate. Stephanie reluctantly acquiesces, and so the fun begins. Over martinis the women trade secrets with each other, serving up far more than the usual, mundane suburban chit-chat.
Emily dishes about her husband, Sean, played by Henry Golding. She complains that his one great novel was published ten years ago, after which he has suffered from terminal writers’ block. Although Emily may have something to do with her husband’s predicament, basically she thinks he’s a loser. Yet to Stephanie’s surprise, the couple nonetheless maintain a strong sexual attraction.
The supporting cast serves nicely by providing additional elements of humor to an already comic escapade. From the kids played by Ian Ho and Joshua Satine to the other “moms” played by Andrew Rannells, Kelly McCormack, and Aparna Nancherla to Emily’s pretentious boss played by Rupert Friend, the varied ensemble adds even more life to the party.
Most notably, it is fascinating to watch Kendrick’s transformation in the course of events. She evolves from innocence and naiveté to increasing sophistication. Along the way, Stephanie receives inadvertent mentoring from Emily, who is both mercurial and incessantly, but endearingly foul-mouthed.
The seasoned lead actresses make a great team playing off each other expertly. Throughout the movie, Kendrick and Lively are a pleasure to watch. They chew up the screen whenever they appear – which is most of the time.
Paul Feig had previously directed “Bridesmaids,” “Spy,” “The Heat,” all with female-led casts and all huge box office hits. Feig seems to be a modern-day George Cukor, the director from Hollywood’s Golden Age, who successfully directed so many leading female stars of the day.
Now comes Feig’s latest outing, peppered with witty dialog, often doled out in rapid-fire sequence. “A Simple Favor” is a rollicking romp of a mystery comedy that never once wears out its welcome.
In theaters Friday, September 14th
