A Simple Favor, a 2018 American black comedy mystery film directed by Paul Feig and written by Jessica Sharzer, boldly ventures into the murky waters of noir and dark humor, yet finds itself struggling to anchor its identity. Admittedly, I wasn't even aware this movie existed until the sequel, Another Simple Favor, was released in 2025. Intrigued by the premise of the follow-up and drawn in by the presence of the charismatic duo Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively reprising their roles, I felt compelled to watch the original first. Based on Darcey Bell’s 2017 novel, the film promises a cocktail of suspense, secrets, and twisted relationships set against the seemingly mundane backdrop of small-town Connecticut. While initially captivating with its dark humor and intriguing premise, the film gradually falters under its own labyrinthine plot and tonal inconsistencies, leaving audiences perplexed as to whether they are watching a quirky comedy, a noir thriller, or a diluted Gone Girl without the visual flair.
Character and Plot Overview: A Disjointed Friendship and Endless Twists
At the heart of the narrative is Stephanie Smothers, a widowed mommy vlogger played by Kendrick, whose cheerful domesticity is upended by the sudden disappearance of her new best friend Emily Nelson, portrayed by Lively. The friendship between Stephanie and Emily is the crux of the story, yet it is unnervingly unconvincing. Their rapid close bond, formed over a brief and ambiguous timeline, lacks organic development, which undermines Stephanie’s obsessive quest to uncover Emily’s fate. Emily is a glamorous, provocative figure haunted by a web of secrets, while Stephanie transforms inexplicably from meek vlogger to amateur sleuth with an unfaltering resolve that stretches credibility. The involvement of the unheroic Sean (Henry Golding), Emily’s husband, whose moral ambiguity adds another layer of complication, deepens the intrigue but simultaneously muddles motivations.
The plot spins an intricate and overly busy tale filled with drug addiction, familial betrayals, hidden pasts, and murder, yet this plethora of revelations often feels overstuffed and perfunctorily executed. While the film excels in delivering twists, their sheer number dilutes their impact rather than enhancing the suspense. The overarching mystery is laced with misdirection, but the payoff is neither novel nor emotionally satisfying, culminating in a predictable climax that diminishes the dramatic tension carefully built up over the course of the narrative.
Thematic Elements: The Illusion of Identity and the Cost of Obsession
The film explores themes of identity, deceit, and the facades people maintain in their social lives—particularly how women navigate friendship, power, and vulnerability. Emily’s character embodies the dangerous allure of a double life and the emptiness beneath surface-level glamor, while Stephanie’s transformation hints at how obsession and proximity to darkness can erode innocence. However, these thematic undercurrents are inconsistently portrayed, as the script vacillates awkwardly between self-aware dark comedy and suspenseful noir thriller. Comparisons to Gone Girl are inevitable, given the shared DNA of domestic intrigue and psychological manipulation, yet A Simple Favor lacks the sharpness and cinematic poise that elevated its predecessor. Unlike its inspirations, the film shadows its themes only superficially, without fully committing to the existential explorations it hints at.
Descriptive Language and Production Insights: Striking Images Amidst Flawed Execution
Visually, the film offers moments of keen craftsmanship that fleetingly cut through the narrative chaos. Noteworthy is the scene of Emily stepping out into the rain as a child's umbrella drifts past—a subtle yet potent symbol of innocence overshadowed by menace. Another memorable image is the decrepit house of Emily’s childhood, where the emergence of a manicured hand from the shadows evokes a chilling metaphor for hidden monstrosities beneath genteel exteriors. Unfortunately, such imagery is sporadic, undermined by jarring costume choices that oscillate between high fashion and absurdity, such as Lively’s over-the-top pantsuit paired with a silver skull cane—striking but tonally perplexing.
The film’s tonal tango is further complicated by the sound design and pacing, with ill-timed attempts at levity puncturing moments meant to build suspense. Director Paul Feig, known for his comedic flair, seems uncertain of whether to lean into wit or thriller, resulting in an inconsistent mood that frustrates immersion. Meanwhile, Jessica Sharzer’s screenplay attempts to weave humor into dark subjects like abuse, addiction, and murder, but the blend feels messy and underdeveloped.
Critical Analysis: Stellar Performances in a Foggy Narrative
Despite the film’s narrative and tonal shortcomings, its performances stand as its saving grace. Blake Lively commands the screen as the enigmatic and unapologetically ruthless Emily. She embodies the femme fatale archetype with seductive ease and delivers a performance rich in nuance, particularly in a raw, emotionally charged lakeside confrontation that showcases her acting prowess beyond surface glamour. Anna Kendrick, portraying Stephanie, balances vulnerability, humor, and a desperate determination, anchoring the film’s emotional core even as her character’s arc strains believability. However, Stephanie’s sudden evolution from subdued mom to fearless detective feels too abrupt and forced to be entirely convincing.
Regrettably, much of the supporting cast, including Golding’s Sean, offers little beyond clichés, serving more as plot devices than fully fleshed-out characters. The film’s relentless inclusion of surprises is better quantity than quality—the twists often feel recycled, predictable, or extraneous, diminishing their effectiveness. Moreover, the script spends too much time on dialogue and scenarios that fail to enhance character depth or propel the story meaningfully, contributing to a sense of narrative bloat.
Conclusion: A Stylish Yet Uneven Mystery, Worth Watching for the Performances Alone
A Simple Favor is a cinematic puzzle box that dazzles with its initial promise of dark comedy and mystery but ultimately unravels under its own ambitions. It wobbles awkwardly between genres, with a disjointed tone and convoluted narrative that struggles to maintain momentum or deliver a fulfilling resolution. Its characters, while compelling at first, delve into unlikeable and unbelievable territory, making it difficult for audiences to emotionally invest. Nevertheless, the magnetic performances of Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick, coupled with well-crafted visual moments, provide enough intrigue to justify a viewing. The film may not live up to the hype or the pedigree of its influences, but it offers a decently entertaining, if flawed, exploration of obsession, deception, and the complexities of friendship in the modern age. For those drawn by sharp twists and strong female leads, A Simple Favor might be a mild but worthwhile detour—though, after this favor is done, perhaps we can all agree to take a long break before asking for another.
