‘Another Simple Favor’ movie review: Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick in an exhausting sequel

A still from ‘Another Simple Favor’

I wish it were as easy as saying, “it is not worth your time,” and going on about my day. But I am told that a movie review warrants critical analysis and a subjective response. So let’s get into it, shall we?

Five years after downing dirty martinis together, spilling dirty secrets, pulling a Gone Girl, committing a cold-blooded murder, and serving time in jail, Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) comes face-to-face with Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick). Once believed to be partners in crime, the duo meet at the latter’s book signing, where Emily asks (read: threatens) Stephanie to be the maid of honour at her wedding. 

Their lives in half a decade since the events that made up A Simple Favor have changed, mostly for the better. Stephanie is a famous social media influencer who is cashing in on the true-crime craze and consulting on real-life cases. Emily, while having skirted her jail time, has an Italian mob boss by her side proposing a wedding. 

From their first meeting to their journey to Capri, the characters, like the audience, seem unsure of the equation they now share, and this does not feel intentional. From the dialogue delivery to the body language of the actors, confusion is writ large, and this is a telling sign of what we are in for in the next hour and a half. 

Once they reach the shores of Capri, they are welcomed by Emily’s fiancé, Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), who boasts of a wealthy business empire, the kind of rich that does not warrant a digital presence.

Just when you think you have something to look for in Capri’s beautiful shorelines, scenic cliffs, and old-money castles, Emily’s suffocating wardrobe dispels your myths. In an attempt to make a fashion statement, the gigantic accessories embellished with gaudy charms, extra-large hats, and eccentric jumpsuits only serve as distractions. The slightly over-exposed glossy colour contrast keeps you from investing in the world of mob rivalry and scheming frenemies.

This sequel to A Simple Favor overestimates the audience’s capacity to remember the finer details of the plot from the first instalment. Going in without a revision will only add to your confusion.

On the island, as the women get on mysterious missions to further their self-interests, we are forced to face a lazy book agent in Vicky (Alex Newell), a conniving but convincing mother-in-law, a clumsy FBI agent, and long-lost siblings. There is murder, suspicious drugs, and a twist at every turn. It gets overwhelming halfway into the film, and the motives behind the characters’ schemes get lost along the way. Trailing them on the roads of a beautiful island is bound to make one motion sick. 

Another Simple Favor struggles to justify its existence. Not only is it unnecessary, or irrelevant, it also goes on to dilute the established character dynamics. You can do yourself a simple favour and pass on this sequel for now.

Another Simple Favor is currently streaming on Prime Video