Sometimes you get the sense that a film is made just for you. Such is the case with Paul Feig's A Simple Favour, a mystery-thriller film based off of Darcey Bell's novel of the same name, which stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in somewhat of a genre detour for Feig, a man typically associated with Melissa McCarthy-led comedies led. While his comedic sensibilities can be found interlaced throughout Favour, it explores a darker side to the director, proving that his talent isn't simply limited for laughs: here he has cooked up a deliriously delicious concoction bound to grip audiences with the endless twists and turns of the pulpy narrative.
When mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) befriends the seemingly sophisticated yet elusive Emily Nelson (Lively), she finds herself indulging in a lifestyle previously unbeknownst to her, sipping martinis and trading dark confessions. But when Emily asks Stephanie for the nominal favour of the title, she finds herself beginning to investigate the sudden disappearance of her new friend, asking the question: What Happened To Emily?
Given my fondness for Paul Feig's previous films - including Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, Spy and The Heat - and my love for a good mystery film, it was always a given that Favour would be my cup of tea. Although a decidedly lower-budget for Feig, this genre-morphing experiment does not disappoint, energising an especially lackflustre cinema stretch. So unfolds a thrilling, pulpy crime 'murder' whodunnit with a brilliantly caustic comedic edge that scintillates and compels throughout its 117-minute runtime.
While the novel was a more straightforward mystery-thriller, Feig brings to the table his usual comedic flair - albeit not so overtly - which elevates the source material considerably. His direction is detailed and glamorous but never sterile or insincere, keeping you firmly on your toes and unbelievably compelled for each of the surprises he holds close to his chest for the duration of this wicked game of his. Having proven his ability to merge genres successfully before, A Simple Favour is no different and his expertise create a genre-reinvigorating, self-aware and seductive satire that bubbles away and allures. Matched with stunning production design, glorious costumes and Theodore Shapiro's characterful score, A Simple Favour is - for the most part - a polished and playful treat.
Jessica Sharzer's razor-sharp screenplay manages to infuse a number of tonally disparate genre into one fizzy, camp and convoluted cocktail; A Simple Favour is a film that somehow has its cake and eats it too, in a tongue-in-cheek, wink-and-nudge type of way. Riddled with more twists and turns than perhaps necessary, A Simple Favour zips between plot points with gay abandon, ensnaring the willing audiences in its intricate, pulpy web. Wickedly funny and delectably dark, the first hour and a half, in particular, is a masterful balancing act that gleefully embraces its kookiness to such a self-indulgent effect that it almost throws the whole piece off-kilter. But it is Feig steering this ship, and with such a confident, consistent director at the helm, it's no surprise that it remains on course for so long.
There's no denying though that it falls apart a little in the final act; I would put forward that there are too many plot twists and its inability to exercise restraint in its final act is its significant undoing. However, to suggest that it doesn't remain thoroughly entertaining throughout would be deceptive: this is a film that, even in its rougher patches, is so irresistibly breezy and bouncy and frothy and fun that the minute you let go of your reservations, it whisks you up a luscious slice of pop delight. And, by the sounds of it, the film's convoluted fallout is a sacrifice we must make to avoid the novel's underwhelming finale.
Even more crucial to Favour's success though is its casting - and it is brilliantly inspired. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively make quite the pairing and the two women run with the film for all its worth. Kendrick injects a perkiness into the role of Stephanie, bringing to the energetic mommy vlogger a well-measured naivety and judgement, dialled perfectly through her terrific lead performance. It is arguably Kendrick's best role to date, grasping the humour as efficiently as expected but sinking her teeth into the dramatic weight and emotion too, with the unexpected darkness tinged with that caustic wit she so frequently shines with. Balancing her character here so superbly, Kendrick proves once and for all that she is more than just the 'Cups' singer.
However, and not to diminish Kendrick's achievements, Blake Lively sashays away with this film with a smirk on her face and a swagger in her step. She relishes the opportunity to play such a dazzlingly unpredictable, mercurial conundrum of a character with such staggering conviction: even when the audience struggles to pin this movie down, Lively does so with a cocktail pick in one hand and her stiletto heel in the other. An award-worthy supporting performance literally dripping in charm and fascination, Lively brings the most wonderful snarkiness to play, delivering a smattering of audaciously-fantastic one-liners that will be embraced by many but repeated no better by any. It is potentially the most intriguing performance to watch in quite some time, absurdly scintillating and utterly memorable: may this be the performance Ms. Lively is remembered for.
A Simple Favour is so many things but ultimately its own thing. It is completely unable to stay still and ever-shifting, a trait that could have so easily led to a discordant disappointment: but Feig indulges and, with a sharp script from Jessica Sharzer, effortlessly blends genres and tones with a self-awareness and confidence that keeps the film on track for so long. Even when it starts to fly off the rails in the messy concluding stretch, Feig still ensures that we are on the edge of our seats and lapping up new twist and turn.
Feig has always known how to direct his starring ladies and with the splendid Kendrick and Lively, he excels; the pair have chemistry and energy aplenty and both deliver career-high performances, eating up every bite of this bonkers, uncategorisable experience. An alluring mystery, a nail-biting thriller, a suburbian satire and side-splitting comedy all-in-one, A Simple Favour is a like reinvigorating, bitter and refreshing martini - do yourself a favour, and ask Emily to pour you one out.
When mommy vlogger Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) befriends the seemingly sophisticated yet elusive Emily Nelson (Lively), she finds herself indulging in a lifestyle previously unbeknownst to her, sipping martinis and trading dark confessions. But when Emily asks Stephanie for the nominal favour of the title, she finds herself beginning to investigate the sudden disappearance of her new friend, asking the question: What Happened To Emily?
Given my fondness for Paul Feig's previous films - including Bridesmaids, Ghostbusters, Spy and The Heat - and my love for a good mystery film, it was always a given that Favour would be my cup of tea. Although a decidedly lower-budget for Feig, this genre-morphing experiment does not disappoint, energising an especially lackflustre cinema stretch. So unfolds a thrilling, pulpy crime 'murder' whodunnit with a brilliantly caustic comedic edge that scintillates and compels throughout its 117-minute runtime.
While the novel was a more straightforward mystery-thriller, Feig brings to the table his usual comedic flair - albeit not so overtly - which elevates the source material considerably. His direction is detailed and glamorous but never sterile or insincere, keeping you firmly on your toes and unbelievably compelled for each of the surprises he holds close to his chest for the duration of this wicked game of his. Having proven his ability to merge genres successfully before, A Simple Favour is no different and his expertise create a genre-reinvigorating, self-aware and seductive satire that bubbles away and allures. Matched with stunning production design, glorious costumes and Theodore Shapiro's characterful score, A Simple Favour is - for the most part - a polished and playful treat.
Jessica Sharzer's razor-sharp screenplay manages to infuse a number of tonally disparate genre into one fizzy, camp and convoluted cocktail; A Simple Favour is a film that somehow has its cake and eats it too, in a tongue-in-cheek, wink-and-nudge type of way. Riddled with more twists and turns than perhaps necessary, A Simple Favour zips between plot points with gay abandon, ensnaring the willing audiences in its intricate, pulpy web. Wickedly funny and delectably dark, the first hour and a half, in particular, is a masterful balancing act that gleefully embraces its kookiness to such a self-indulgent effect that it almost throws the whole piece off-kilter. But it is Feig steering this ship, and with such a confident, consistent director at the helm, it's no surprise that it remains on course for so long.
There's no denying though that it falls apart a little in the final act; I would put forward that there are too many plot twists and its inability to exercise restraint in its final act is its significant undoing. However, to suggest that it doesn't remain thoroughly entertaining throughout would be deceptive: this is a film that, even in its rougher patches, is so irresistibly breezy and bouncy and frothy and fun that the minute you let go of your reservations, it whisks you up a luscious slice of pop delight. And, by the sounds of it, the film's convoluted fallout is a sacrifice we must make to avoid the novel's underwhelming finale.
Even more crucial to Favour's success though is its casting - and it is brilliantly inspired. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively make quite the pairing and the two women run with the film for all its worth. Kendrick injects a perkiness into the role of Stephanie, bringing to the energetic mommy vlogger a well-measured naivety and judgement, dialled perfectly through her terrific lead performance. It is arguably Kendrick's best role to date, grasping the humour as efficiently as expected but sinking her teeth into the dramatic weight and emotion too, with the unexpected darkness tinged with that caustic wit she so frequently shines with. Balancing her character here so superbly, Kendrick proves once and for all that she is more than just the 'Cups' singer.
However, and not to diminish Kendrick's achievements, Blake Lively sashays away with this film with a smirk on her face and a swagger in her step. She relishes the opportunity to play such a dazzlingly unpredictable, mercurial conundrum of a character with such staggering conviction: even when the audience struggles to pin this movie down, Lively does so with a cocktail pick in one hand and her stiletto heel in the other. An award-worthy supporting performance literally dripping in charm and fascination, Lively brings the most wonderful snarkiness to play, delivering a smattering of audaciously-fantastic one-liners that will be embraced by many but repeated no better by any. It is potentially the most intriguing performance to watch in quite some time, absurdly scintillating and utterly memorable: may this be the performance Ms. Lively is remembered for.
A Simple Favour is so many things but ultimately its own thing. It is completely unable to stay still and ever-shifting, a trait that could have so easily led to a discordant disappointment: but Feig indulges and, with a sharp script from Jessica Sharzer, effortlessly blends genres and tones with a self-awareness and confidence that keeps the film on track for so long. Even when it starts to fly off the rails in the messy concluding stretch, Feig still ensures that we are on the edge of our seats and lapping up new twist and turn.
Feig has always known how to direct his starring ladies and with the splendid Kendrick and Lively, he excels; the pair have chemistry and energy aplenty and both deliver career-high performances, eating up every bite of this bonkers, uncategorisable experience. An alluring mystery, a nail-biting thriller, a suburbian satire and side-splitting comedy all-in-one, A Simple Favour is a like reinvigorating, bitter and refreshing martini - do yourself a favour, and ask Emily to pour you one out.
★★★★★★★★☆☆
(8/10)
Summary: A Simple Favour is a deliciously dark and delectable slice of frothy, indulgent cinema, impeccably balanced by Paul Feig until the messy final act. Even still, you're so caught up in the twists and turns, and enraptured by the career-high performances from Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, that it's impossible to resist such a favour.