A Simple Favor

It's a shame the film wasn't a bit more comedic and that the humor started to veer away from seriousness and attempts at suspense as time went on, because both actresses are amazing and the potential was great. Given that Paul Feig decided to use (almost) only French songs, he might as well have made something in the style of French comedies. (2020-07-28)

Sometimes things just work out. The sweetly absent-minded Anna, the incredibly attractive fox Blake, the accurately underrated curiosity, the successful balance between serious and purely entertaining intrigue, and a good mood that helped me ignore the shaky motifs and enjoy the story. Simple Favor relies on the contrast of the two female leads, which becomes blurred under the weight of the events, while the script humorously plays with the rejoinders and the findings of the beginning and doesn’t stop until the last scene, which borders comedic insanity, but completes that game mode more or less successfully. Please, more of Anna and Blake in the cinema, and it could be with fewer clothes on. 75% (2018-12-20)

I consider movies with Blake Lively my private guilty pleasures. I'll check out Darcey Bell's book, but I definitely wouldn't be interested in a thriller like this without the movie. However, as a spectacle based on the contrasting talents of Blake and Anna Kendrick, it was a treat. A treat for the eyes. (2022-07-03)

Of particular note is that A Simple Favor teeters on the edge of serious thriller while not shying away from using a self-parodying approach in some passages. The whole thing just doesn't take itself entirely seriously, which is appealing and gives the whole film a nice touch of light playfulness. On the other hand, the thriller storyline with its slightly mysterious elements works quite reliably in its right, even if it is a bit predictable (which I personally didn't mind too much, because this simply isn't a hardcore thriller like Gone Girl). As a result, A Simple Favor is a viewer-friendly and, given the central theme, quite rewarding affair. Thumbs up for the approach taken, the excellent Anna Kendrick, and the unprecedentedly gorgeous Blake Lively (she doesn't look as good in any other film as she does here). "Brotherfucker!" (2018-11-20)

Blake Lively is always nice to look at, so I wasn't worried about the aesthetic aspect of the film. It soon became clear that the script wouldn't be a disappointment either. Anna Kendrick played another one of those goofy characters that suit her so well. Even though I didn't exactly roll on the floor laughing, I had a very good time. When it comes to thrillers, I’m used to the fact that there is a twist at the end. Here, there was more than just one and they all worked out really well. (2019-05-05)