Based on a novel by Darcey Bell, this movie tells the story of Stephanie (Anne Kendrick), a widowed mommy vlogger who is full of energy and enthusiasm and is therefore hated by all the other parents at her kid's school. Everyone is surprised when she accidentally befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a high-powered PR executive who is the exact opposite of Stephanie when it comes to mothering know-how. Yet, the two ladies strike up a quick friendship. One day, Emily calls up Stephanie to watch her son as she has to stay late at work to handle a crisis. A few days later, no one has heard from Emily, and the police are called. And then this movie gets truly bonkers.
There are so many twists and turns that even contemplating them all makes my head spin. Needless to say, I shan't spoil anything further for you. Instead, I'll wax lyrical about how excellent these two actresses are in these roles. Kendrick is her reliable high-strung comic self, playing Stephanie as an eager to please annoyance, who is also exceedingly kind and competent. But Lively is the true surprise of the film, playing a complete wackadoodle who hits so many notes over the course of two hours that you aren't sure if you should be tickled or terrified by her character. It's a virtuoso performance, further highlighting Paul Feig's claim to being a true woman's director. He always finds the best in his actresses, and in this movie, he delivers the goods. Lest I forget, Henry Golding also stars as Emily's beleaguered husband, Sean, and given that this is his second movie after his debut in Crazy Rich Asians, he has come out of nowhere and basically become the man of the summer.
It also behooves me to discuss the aesthetics of this film. The costume design by Renee Ehrlich Kalfus is utterly sumptuous; whether it's Stephanie's very twee and mommy-appropriate brightly-colored dresses, or every bizarrely brilliant fashion statement by Emily, this movie is a costuming delight, even to someone like me who buys all her clothes from the Gap. Lively is so stupidly gorgeous that she can pull off hats, watch chains, and detachable cuffs without looking remotely ridiculous for a single frame. And then there's that soundtrack. Featuring sultry French songs, they set the mood to make this a swoony, sexy, noir film that first seems like a fun comedy and then quickly turns into a much more freaky thriller. Accompanied by Theodore Shapiro's tantalizing score, the music perfectly sets the stage for the glamorous world Stephanie steps into and then exposes the seedy underbelly.
There is nothing simple about A Simple Favor. It is hilarious, dark, mysterious, and bewitching from start to finish. You won't be bored for a second and you will be reminded that this is what a summer movie is all about. If that Oscar category for Best Popular Film was still happening, this would definitely deserve a nomination, but oh well. Guess we'll just make it sure it wins at the box office instead.
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