“Do you think I invited you to get revenge, for stealing my life… Do you think I want to make you pay.”
I loved the first movie when it came out in 2018, well before I knew about the Blake Lively drama with Justin Baldoni.
Another Simple Favour was filmed before the controversy surrounding Blake took over social media, so you must give props to the crew and cast members who have had to put up with the subsequent, “is the wife of Ryan Reynolds a narcissistic manipulator or not” narrative that could of de-railed this movie.
In a way, it’s been the perfect marketing tool as Blakes character in ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR is very similar to what her detractors say she is like in real-life.
This sequel picks up where the first one has left off. Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is back livestreaming/vlogging from house arrest in Italy and why she is there is revealed later in the movie. She reveals to her followers that in the intervening years since the events of the first movie she is solving reddit mysteries with haunting results and is still baking.
We then flashback to Stephanie in Connecticut who is at a book reading for her underselling true crime memoir. Blake Lively as Emily, “the faceless blond” crashes her reading and tells Stephanie to be her Maid of Honor as she is getting married in Capri.
She has been sprung from jail by her new mysterious fiancé, who it becomes clear is a mobster with the Italian mafia.
So, Emily and Stephanie use her fiancés Private jet to go to Capri; it is all very weird, but it does keep the audience intrigued. It’s a good set up. This is when Stephanie begins to suspect that the finance may be a criminal.
Henry Golding is back as Sean (ex-husband of Emily) and he probably is the best character because he is so honest and says it how it is. It is not a spoiler to say his role gets cut short, as he gets killed early on and his death is the spark for the twists and turns that are the main action of the movie. Stephanie thinks that Emily has killed her ex-husband, and so begins more murders, identity revelations and black humour.
However, although I was on tender hooks at the beginning, as the film progressed the plot gets messy and a bit silly.
As a Sequel I have got mixed feelings as it’s not a bad film and has some good twists but it struggles to live up to its predecessor. Its unnecessarily complicated and its hard to really care about the characters, even though they are dressed beautifully and are in stunning locations. The costume department deserves an Oscar, as I kept getting distracted by what they were wearing.
I liked the narrative touch of how Stephanie keeps on livestreaming throughout the movie, which gives the audience hints and colour to what is going on.
Ten minutes into the film I nearly fell out of my chair when Blake says, “if you don’t come, I will have to sue you into oblivion for using my name and likeness without my express written consent.” This foreshadows the accusations made about Blakes conduct to those around her, especially from her co-star and Director Baldoni in IT ENDS WITH US.
This cant be intentional, but it is incredible how fact and fiction can merge sometimes.
Madness.
Anna Kendrick tries to make this film as witty and edgy as the first, but at the end of the day the script just isn’t strong enough and you can sense an undercurrent of Blake Lively’s real life tribulations hanging over everything. Given Emily’s character you would think it would add some spice, but in fact it is distracting because you keep wondering how like Emily, Blake really is?
Kendrick comedic timing is still a wonder, just wish there was a little bit more on show.
For me, there are too many characters that don’t add anything to the story and don’t go anywhere. It is very pretty to look at, but even with a few nice changes of direction in the story it underwhelms.