“A Simple Favor”– Movie Review

This week, I attended an advance screening of the new comedy-mystery, “A Simple Favor”, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively and directed by Paul Feig.

Synopsis

After a woman’s best friend is missing, she tries to find her – but when the search turns up some rather unpleasant facts, will she continue her search or give up?

Story

As a popular vlogger on homemaking tips, Stephanie (Kendrick) shares with her audience what’s going on in her personal life:  Emily (Lively), her pal and Connecticut neighbor, has suddenly disappeared. Ostensibly, Emily was supposed to be working late at the office due to an unforeseen emergency, leaving Stephanie to care for both her own son Miles as well as Emily’s son Nicky while Emily’s husband Sean (Henry Golding) is overseas visiting family.  As it turns out, however, five days pass without hearing from Emily, leaving Stephanie, Sean and Nicky understandably worried.

Upon reporting this to the local police department, an investigation ensues.  Following a search around the country, Emily’s rental car is located, submerged in a lake; a body is recovered and when lab results return a DNA match, Emily is officially declared dead.  Stephanie, who is herself a widow, now comforts Sean, Nicky and Miles. Before long, Stephanie and Sean develop a romantic relationship.  All is not well, however, when Stephanie gets a mysterious telephone call from Emily. Confused and scared, Stephanie now proceeds with her own investigation of Emily.

Eventually, Stephanie’s research sends her out of state to learn more about Emily’s background.  Gradually, layers get peeled away like an onion and disturbing information is uncovered. Stephanie soon realizes that although Emily was her best friend, there was a great deal she did not know about her – and a great number of secrets Emily withheld as well.  Did Sean know these secrets or was he as much in the dark as Stephanie? The deeper Stephanie burrows down this warren, the more she finds she may be endangered. Will Stephanie be able to complete her investigation before harm comes to her?

Review

When writing reviews for this blog, the following problem occurs:  there’s very little to say when seeing a particularly bad flick other than simply, “Don’t go”.  However, when screening a really good film, writing effusively is effortless. After catching a viewing of “A Simple Favor”, there’s a unique problem:  it’s an uproariously funny and most entertaining motion picture that leaves little to state other than, “Go see it immediately!”. A more enthusiastic offering cannot be stated – and as challenging as it may be to continue, it is welcome to finally be able to say this. 

You will be forgiven if you become delirious from laughter after seeing “A Simple Favor” because it’s just that funny.  The filmmakers have concocted a story that is not only hilarious (based on a novel), but also an enthralling mystery that contains one twist after another, with double-crosses, triple-crosses and even quadruple-crosses, if such a thing is even possible.  The return-on-investment of your entertainment dollar will pay for the ticket and maybe the popcorn, too.  Director Paul Feig and the cast have done such a wonderful job on this movie that it deserves support.

At the risk of sexism, one thing should be mentioned:  this screening was overwhelmingly women, very few men. That’s too bad.  If guys fail to see “A Simple Favor”, they’re missing out on a fun time. While the gals definitely seemed to enjoy the movie, it should not be assumed that it is a “chick flick” just because its leads are Kendrick and Lively (and is directed by Feig, a noted women’s comedy director).  This is an outstanding date-night film – in fact, bring another couple if you can because you’ll want to share this wonder with as many of your friends as possible.