It's True - 'A Simple Favor' Is Not What You Think
Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding
Rated R
Comedy, Drama
Run Time: 1 hr, 57 min
Directed by Paul Feig
In theaters September 14, 2018
The trailer screams “The Next Gone Girl.” The fashion and soundtrack scream “art film.” The writing screams “dark comedy.” And the whole thing combines to make a beautiful to watch, actually laugh out loud thriller that highlights the two lead actresses perfectly. The true joy of the film - despite trying to figure out any and all twists that may come about - is watching Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively shine, each in an element that haven’t quite been seen before.
The plot doesn’t differ too much from what the trailer shows: Stephanie (Kendrick) is a mommy blogger who meets glamorous Emily (Lively) one day at the school where both their kids attend. Suddenly, they become friends of sorts, then Emily has gone missing and Stephanie finds herself wrapped up in a mysterious situation dealing with what could have happened, and what to make of Emily’s handsome, possibly too-good-to-be-true husband (Henry Golding).
Considering she was playing college kids not too long ago, Kendrick pulls off the look of a stereotypical stay-at-home mom surprisingly well, and she proves to be a worthy match to Lively’s suit wearing executive. That being said, this seems like the role that Lively was born to play. It’s as if her Gossip Girl character grew up, got a foul mouth and potentially had a large closet of skeletons than the viewers realized.
Sure, there’s a ton of talk over Lively’s fashion in this film, and with good reason. It’s not a look you see often on women, and it added to the mystique that made up Emily. But the acting is really the most impressive part. It slides from laugh-inducing lines to dark subplots with ease and everyone, especially the leading ladies, seem to be right at home in this kind of movie. Even if a plot twist or two can be figured out before it’s revealed, it’s well worth a watch, whether you want to sit on the edge of your seat or giggle at one liners.