Another Simple Favor Review: Blake Lively Shines In A Sequel That's Glossy But Uneven
Another Simple Favor Movie Review: Blake Lively shines in Another Simple Favor, but the film struggles to match the thrill and wit of the original despite its glossy setup.
Another Simple FavorU/A
Another Simple Favor Movie Review: Another Simple Favor, the sequel to the 2018 mystery-comedy, reunites Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in what promises to be another stylish rollercoaster of secrets, murder and dark humour. While the original was a surprising hit, mixing camp, mystery and satire with great energy, the sequel struggles to maintain that balance. It’s entertaining in parts, but largely feels like a weaker copy of its predecessor.
The film picks up years after the events of the first movie. Stephanie (Kendrick), now a successful true-crime podcaster, is once again pulled into the orbit of the enigmatic Emily (Lively), who faked her death in the last film and disappeared. This time, the setting shifts to Italy, where a lavish wedding becomes the backdrop for yet another twist-filled tale involving secrets, betrayal, and of course, murder.
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Blake Lively brings the same magnetic presence that made Emily such a standout in the first film. She’s icy, unpredictable and utterly confident. Her wardrobe still makes a statement, but this time around, the writing gives her less edge and fewer surprises. Lively does her best to breathe life into Emily’s games, but the character feels slightly flattened and more like a caricature than the cool, mysterious woman we met in the original.
Anna Kendrick continues to play Stephanie with awkward charm, though the sequel leans heavily on her cluelessness, often using her for comic relief rather than character growth. The dynamic between the two women, which was the heart of the first film, feels more forced here. There’s tension, sure, but it lacks the underlying curiosity and danger that made their bond so addictive before.
One of the film’s biggest issues is that it doesn’t know what it wants to be. It tries to blend murder mystery with satire and camp, but without the tight writing and tone that made the original work. Instead of building suspense or playing with genre expectations, the plot gets tangled in too many twists that feel random rather than clever. As the bodies pile up and secrets unravel, the film starts to feel more chaotic than exciting.
Director Paul Feig once again leans into his style including beautiful locations, sharp fashion, dramatic music, but style alone isn’t enough. There are moments of humour, and the cast clearly has fun, but the film rarely digs deeper. There’s little emotional weight, and by the end, it’s hard to care much about who’s lying, who’s dying or who gets away with what.
That said, the movie isn’t without its pleasures. Some of the dialogues are sharp, the visuals are striking and the Italian wedding setting adds flair. But none of it quite comes together. It feels like the film is going through the motions, trying to recapture a spark without knowing what made it burn the first time.
In terms of performances, Lively is the main reason to watch. Even when the script lets her down, she commits to the role with elegance and attitude. Kendrick is enjoyable too, but she’s stuck in a story that doesn’t allow her to grow or surprise us.
Another Simple Favor has the ingredients for a fun sequel including two strong leads, a glamorous setting and a mystery to unravel, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing. Blake Lively is as stylish and compelling as ever, but the film around her isn’t sharp enough to match. It’s a light watch, but not a memorable one.
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