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A Simple Favor (2018) reviews from people you don't follow

Katey Bassett (610 KP) rated
Oct 26, 2019
Bordering on very good and excellent. Started watching it and thought it would be similar to Girl on a Train but how wrong I was, can't really talk about the film without giving too much away but there are plenty of twists and different tangents going on. The film has been narrated as if it was a true story with a voice over at the beginning and what happened next at the end, haven't read the book but don't think it is is true. One final thing always look out for the quiet ones.
Competently made and very well-cast suspense drama (kind of). 'Ordinary person' single mother and vlogger Stephanie (Kendrick) ends up becoming besties with dangerously glamorous and enigmatic fellow parent (Lively); when her new pal vanishes, Stephanie decides that something suspicious may have taken place...
Very very much in the same vein as Gone Girl, to the extent that people would probably have been screaming knock-off had this film not also functioned as a rather effective black comedy - you may be wondering what a light comedian like Kendrick is doing fronting a thriller directed by a comedy specialist like Paul Feig; well, this is the reason why. This may also be the reason why the film is cheerily up-front about how far-fetched its own plot is. Not the kind of movie that really lingers in the memory, but nicely put-together and fun while you're watching it.
Very very much in the same vein as Gone Girl, to the extent that people would probably have been screaming knock-off had this film not also functioned as a rather effective black comedy - you may be wondering what a light comedian like Kendrick is doing fronting a thriller directed by a comedy specialist like Paul Feig; well, this is the reason why. This may also be the reason why the film is cheerily up-front about how far-fetched its own plot is. Not the kind of movie that really lingers in the memory, but nicely put-together and fun while you're watching it.

BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated
Apr 8, 2020
A Simple Favor (2018) reviews from people you don't follow

Erika (17789 KP) rated
Sep 15, 2018 (Updated Sep 15, 2018)
Warning: This is an outright comedy
Before I read any reviews on this film, I thought it was a thriller, and the trailer sold it as a sort of Gone-Girl-Girl-on-the-Train-esque film. Then I read one review, which warned that it was comedy, and the comedic elements outweighed everything else.
Anna Kendrick's character is slightly insufferable for me in the beginning, the 'mommy vlogger', but she was a perfect contract to Blake Lively's character. Henry Golding was great, and I didn't mind looking at him for nearly 2 hours.
The end was bananas, and not in a particularly good way, because it was messy. On the bright side, this is the first Paul Feig movie I'll be able to watch again.
Anna Kendrick's character is slightly insufferable for me in the beginning, the 'mommy vlogger', but she was a perfect contract to Blake Lively's character. Henry Golding was great, and I didn't mind looking at him for nearly 2 hours.
The end was bananas, and not in a particularly good way, because it was messy. On the bright side, this is the first Paul Feig movie I'll be able to watch again.
Contains spoilers, click to show
As soon as the movie starts we learn that Stephanie is a vlogger who's "best friend" Emily is currently missing and we are thrown into a backstory of how they met. We also discover that Stephanie is a widower and Emily isn't the nicest of people, she's always criticising Stephanie and even freaked out when she took her photo, yet Stephanie still wants to hang out with her and share secrets etc. I guess Stephanie just has a hard time making friends so clings to the first woman who speaks to her, sadly this is a thing as I've known people who have done this in real life. Anyway the last time Stephanie hears from Emily, she is asked to pick up her child from school for a few hours and she's never heard from again. Stephanie and Emily's husband take it upon themselves to find out where Emily is, the investigation is short lived when Emily is found dead.
The movie was very captivating especially an hour before the end. There was so many unexpected twists and turns, just when you get over one twist another is thrown at you. There is a little humour in it, however, this humour can sometimes takeaway the seriousness of the movie as it is a little far fetched at times. You'll understand when you watch
The movie was very captivating especially an hour before the end. There was so many unexpected twists and turns, just when you get over one twist another is thrown at you. There is a little humour in it, however, this humour can sometimes takeaway the seriousness of the movie as it is a little far fetched at times. You'll understand when you watch


Dork_knight74 (881 KP) rated
Jan 19, 2019
Not bad
This one came up on a list of if thrillers to watch so I checked it out. It actually surprised me. The description doesn't do it justice. Started out a little slow but it took some turns and twists that weren't expected. Great story all around with very good performance by Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick(both good actresses). The cinematography was well done, too. If you're into mystery/thrillers with a touch of comedy thrown in, you'll enjoy this movie. Worth a watch!
Confused and dull
Having read other Smashbombers reviews, I did at least go into this film knowing it wasn't an out an out thriller, but that still didn't prepare me for what followed.
This film really can't decide what it is; dark comedy, thriller? It seems to seesaw between the two for the entire 2 hour run time, with very little success in either genre. There are a few funny-ish (I smiled a bit) parts but most of the humour is a little bit cheesy or niche. The thriller side too is very predictable, and most of the twists you can see coming a mile off - this almost feels like a second rate comedy rip off of Gone Girl. And then the final act just goes completely bonkers and ridiculous.
Anna Kendrick plays the same character she always does, and I've finally had enough as shes starting to grate on me. Some of the supporting actors like Andrew Rannells aren't given anywhere near enough screen time (loved him in Girls). The only one to come out of this film unscathed is Blake Lively. She's very charismatic and surprisingly endearing, despite her characters reputation and actions. I have to admit, I have a bit of a girl crush on her - id love to be able to dress like that at work!
For the most part, this film was pretty dull and predictable, and was only entertaining whenever Lively is on screen, which wasn't nearly often enough.
This film really can't decide what it is; dark comedy, thriller? It seems to seesaw between the two for the entire 2 hour run time, with very little success in either genre. There are a few funny-ish (I smiled a bit) parts but most of the humour is a little bit cheesy or niche. The thriller side too is very predictable, and most of the twists you can see coming a mile off - this almost feels like a second rate comedy rip off of Gone Girl. And then the final act just goes completely bonkers and ridiculous.
Anna Kendrick plays the same character she always does, and I've finally had enough as shes starting to grate on me. Some of the supporting actors like Andrew Rannells aren't given anywhere near enough screen time (loved him in Girls). The only one to come out of this film unscathed is Blake Lively. She's very charismatic and surprisingly endearing, despite her characters reputation and actions. I have to admit, I have a bit of a girl crush on her - id love to be able to dress like that at work!
For the most part, this film was pretty dull and predictable, and was only entertaining whenever Lively is on screen, which wasn't nearly often enough.