A Simple Favor

First and foremost, this film feels like someone went to their local grocery store, grabbed a random three-dollar mystery novel off the checkout shelf, and decided to make it a movie with some extremely popular and attractive people. In other words, it's a silly mystery movie with crazy, zany twists and turns.

Some of those twists and turns were easy enough to see coming, but some of them were straight out of left field. In addition to the entertaining twists, the film does a decent job of not taking itself seriously. The humor in the movie is peppered in during great moments. Some of it is cheesy, but if you're going to this film for a deep, thought-provoking film, don't.

The characters themselves are all extremely exaggerated. Lively's Emily is over-the-top sophisticated, crass, and private to the point where she won't allow pictures or even paintings of her face. Kendrick's Stephanie is bubbly, eager, awkward, and overly friendly. The rest of the cast fills in the needs around them, and while the cast is filled with one-note characters, they fulfill the needs well. Golding's Sean was my least favorite, but mainly because he doesn't have a defined archetype in a film filled with single-aspect characters.

The biggest issue with the film is the plot itself. Emily contradicts herself with the motive for her faking her own death. She tells Sean that she did it for him and for Nicky. Then she says she did it for her. On top of it all, she doesn't appear to have a plan to get the insurance money after it comes through. The film could have easily alleviated all of these issues with a quick scene or a line about fake passports for Emily and Nicky.

All in all, A Simple Favor is a fun romp filled with crazy twists and turns, humor, and great acting. Don't think too much about the film itself, and just go have some fun. It's definitely worth a getaway matinee.

I really don't know what vibe A Simple Favor was going for, but I know I kinda liked it.

Final rating:★★★ - I liked it. Would personally recommend you give it a go.

Stylish, self-aware, and hilarious - a (mostly) enjoyable parody

My mother used to say: Everyone has secrets. That's why you can never really know anyone else. Or trust anyone. It's why you can never know yourself. Sometimes we even keep secrets from ourselves. Growing up, I thought that was good advice, although I didn't completely understand it. Or maybe I did, a little. Kids have secrets. The imaginary friends, the things they'd get in trouble for if a grown-up ever found out.

Later I discovered that Mom was speaking from personal experience. And I wonder if she was not jus__t preparing me but programming me for secrecy and mistrust. Did she sense that I would grow up to have darker and more shameful secrets than anyone else's? Secrets I mostly manage to keep - even from myself?

• Darcey Bell; A Simple Favour (2017)

Examining the rotten core beneath the surface urbanity of suburbia is something that has attracted filmmakers as diverse as Alfred Hitchcock (Shadow of a Doubt), David Lynch (Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me), Joe Dante (The 'Burbs), Gus Van Sant (To Die For), and Frank Oz (The Stepford Wives). More recently, novels such as Gillian Flynn's 2012 novel, Gone Girl (and David Fincher's 2014 filmic adaptation), have expanded and popularised the suburban noir genre; the very genre that A Simple Favour's satirical excesses primarily target. A comedic look at the lives of two young mothers in an affluent American suburb, coupled with a mystery plot, 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 seems to be trying to ensure the film can exist (relatively) un-ironically within the very genre it's attempting to lampoon. And he doesn't particularly succeed. Despite this schizophrenic quality, however, the...

You know I was confused a lot but interested. Suspense thriller it turned into. It all makes sense though in the end. Really enjoyed watching this.

" A Simple Favor" stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, two actresses who have been steadily climbing the ranks in the entertainment industry since their humble beginnings in television. Now, they are making their mark in the cinematic world with their masterful performances.

Blake Lively shines in her role, showcasing her exceptional talent as she always does in every film. While she has yet to discover her breakthrough or blockbuster role that could catapult her to mega stardom or land her an Oscar nomination, her potential is undeniable.

The movie takes viewers on a spontaneous thrill ride, delving into the characters' individual storylines and the mysterious circumstances that bring them together. It offers a mix of suspense, mystery, and a touch of murder, creating an engaging experience that may not be groundbreaking but is certainly worth revisiting.

While "A Simple Favor" may not be a film that leaves you jumping with excitement, it is a fun and exhilarating watch that is definitely worth checking out. It provides an opportunity to enjoy something light-hearted and entertaining for a brief period, making it a worthwhile viewing experience.