Directed by Paul Feig
Where & When: Arclight Cinemas, Hollywood, CA. September 18, 2018 1:45 PM
"A Simple Favor", a twisted yet far-fetched, dark comedy thriller, starts with two contrasting women whimsically bonding over the challenges of motherhood and career before veering wildly in to treacherous territory involving deception and murder. What is notable about the film is that it's directed by Paul Feig, who brought us the hilariously profane, female-driven comedies, "Bridesmaids" and "The Heat". While it would seem like he would be able to create something deliriously offbeat, Mr. Feig is unable to find a stable tone with the plot underwhelming and the humor far too safe.
Set in a Connecticut suburb, Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a stay-at-home, post-feminist mommy vlogger who shares her secrets on how you can be the best mother possible through the traditional routines of home-baking and crafts. Her over-eager enthusiasm and perkiness tends to get on the nerves of the other mothers (and a daddy, played by Andrew Rannells) at the elementary school her son, Miles (Joshua Satine) attends. Miles befriends his classmate, Nicky (Ian Ho) and they insist on a playdate after school. Stephanie is not opposed to the idea but she needs to speak to his mother first.
Enter Nicky's mother, Emily (Blake Lively), a tall and stylish career woman who is the PR director for a fashion designer (Rupert Friend). She has no time for small talk nor in the mood for playdates with her only goal is to get home for a martini. Emily gives in when she realizes she won't win this battle with her insistent son and invites a surprised Stephanie to her house for drinks.
Stephanie is not surprised by Emily's equally stylish home and handsome husband, Sean (Henry Golding, now a hot commodity thanks to his appearance in "Crazy Rich Asians"), a successful novelist turned college professor. But she's taken aback by how quickly they bond and although they barely have anything in common, she's thrilled to have a cool, new friend.
These cocktail-loving besties begin to share intimate details about their lives with Emily telling about her husband's financial problems and Stephanie revealing the tragic accident that killed her husband and half-brother along with a dark secret that may have triggered it.
However, this newfound friendship quickly turns more one-sided as Emily frequently asks Stephanie to pick-up and watch her son as she can't possibly get away from work. One day, Emily doesn't return and simply vanishes. A manhunt is begun but Stephanie discovers her friend has not been exactly honest with her, keeping her own dark secrets, and starts her own investigation in to Emily's past.
Some have referred to the film as "Hitchcockian" but I think "A Simple Favor" is more in line with "Lifetime Channel" fare. The dramatic mystery at the heart of this thriller is sadly transparent, the many shocking twists and unexpected turns in the story tend to confuse more than excite and the humor in Ms. Sharzer's script lacks some clever comic gems that are desperately needed to give this movie some juice.
What is really needed here are performers who can deliver some big, titillating dramatics to help rise above the plodding material. But unfortunately, our lead actresses don't have the requirements to fill the void, keeping their performances grounded and tame. I must admit that the appeal of Ms Kendrick is lost on me but her perky and sweet persona, which was used to good effect in the "Pitch Perfect" series, must work for some. While the statuesque Ms Lively, who first found fame on TV's "Gossip Girl", can be a solid actress, she's not convincing as a femme fatale, comic or otherwise.
Bravo to Mr. Feig for attempting to move out of his comfort zone of zany comedies into something humorous yet far more complex. But "A Simple Favor" is a stylish romp with very little substance. Perhaps the film could have benefited from exploring further the complicated problems that women face trying to juggle motherhood, careers and relationships instead of diving in to a minor, less funny spin of "Gone Girl".
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