Well, we are here again on the brink of another summer season and left with more questions than answers. Not that there are ever any certainties in this world at large, let alone in the world of entertainment. With the state of the world being what it is, maybe it would be fun to jump on a plane for any destination. Films have a way of making travel always seem glamorous, even as the characters and situations become unpleasant or divisive. And then there are some movies which leave such little impression that you canāt even be mad at them. Must be yet another streaming movie.
Another Simple Favor follows the 2018 film from director Paul Feig. Based around the characters by Darcey Bell, the audience is reintroduced to Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) now a true crime author to add to her many in-universe career hyphenates. In the middle of a book tour event, her nemesis walks in like a dream sequence. Emily (Blake Lively) seems to float in ghostly only for her to audibly say āBoo.ā That is part of the problem with this sequel. This lack of subtlety that made the original so refreshing becomes grating as this film goes on. Even Blakeās outfits become so outlandish that they circle from camp to eye-rolling.
The white wedding dress with the blood red train was particularly ridiculous, fabric as foreshadowing. Murder is definitely in the mix as we take a private flight with our girls out to Capri. Emilyās brilliant plan this go around is to marry a wealthy scion of a Mafia family. I would seem from the outset that this is yet another farce to kill someone and get rich quick. Sadly, my friends, this is just the tip of the iceberg in this crazy plot. Not to go into too many details; but this elaborate scheme involves triplets, a lavender wedding, an unhinged aunt, and truth serum. An experience that for me at least felt like stumbling into one of Stefonās (from SNL) clubs, only the vibes are even more off than usual. I have to commend the writers for concocting the most stupefying use of Bury Your Gays that has ever been produced. I am just genuinely too shocked by how incipit this is to even be offended.
You canāt even blame the actors here. Most are talented enough to work with this slop; most, that is. Some arenāt even given enough to fabricate scenarios around. Kendrick is always a delight to see, whatever she does. But there is nothing to really work with that wasnāt already fine about the original.
How is it possible to both underutilize Henry Golding and overuse him at the same time? This is truly baffling. Lively seems to be the only one who knew what was needed of her. Again, without giving away too much of the plot, she sells us on her ruthlessness but also on tenderness as well in other scenes. The tour de force of playing different distinct people is not an easy task but Blake is up for that challenge. Given her recent media scandal, some might just think she is leaning into that narrative of the manipulative sociopath. She is just that good of an actress where she is able draw from many references in order to form a cohesive whole.
Paul Feig used to make outstanding comedies back in the 2010s. From Bridesmaids to Spy and The Heat, he was on a creative streak. Somewhere around the Ghostbusters remake is where he started to lose the thread. The original Simple Favor was a sign that he was about to right the ship. Its sequel, Iām afraid, shows him steering this ocean liner off a cliff. I am sad to inform you that there is a door left open for another, lest Amazon wants to fork over more money in the future. One only hopes that they save the trip budget and purchase a nice staycation.
