Another Simple Favor (2025) Review: Define ‘Simple’ please?

I am still surprised she got out of prison. I mean, after the events in A Simple Favor (2018), how did she even get bail?

Director Paul Feig is back with a ’70s-like vibe in the second part of this franchise, 7 years after the original film. And it’s safe to say, Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) is still magnetic, stunning, charismatic and the devil in disguise. Her “best friend” Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is smarter and learning the knack of predicting Emily’s moves before they occur. So, who will win this master game of chess?

For a quick revision on Part 1: Influencer recipe blogger and mom Stephanie Ward befriends Emily Nelson, a high-profile PR director of a top fashion company on purely coincidental circumstances after school as their respective kids want to play together. Their friendship builds and on one particular day, Stephanie is requested a favor by her new close friend, Emily, to help pick up Emily’s son from school. Emily, on the other hand, never shows up to pick up her son from Stephanie, and she is presumed dead after days of seeking. Stephanie begins probing further into Emily’s secrets as she strives to discover the truth. Unfortunately, the gruesome truth is darker than you can imagine.

Fast forward to Part 2, Stephanie is invited to her best friend, Emily’s extravagant wedding to an Italian businessman on the island of Capri, Italy. Especially considering that Stephanie is basically blackmailed to attend Emily’s wedding in Capri, fully aware that she will probably be murdered for sending her “bestie” to prison.

This movie was so funny despite some atrocious acts being committed on screen. For instance, there are scenes of seemingly harmless banter between the two best friends, which involves heavy blackmail and unadulterated insults. Then there is the undercover FBI agent who is clearly an amateur compared to the professional duo Emily-Stephanie. To top it all off, there is the major issue of duplicates, which is the base of the plotline.

The heavily advertised presence of Michele Morrone as Dante, a mob guy, is minimal and more of a filler cameo. Henry Golding reprises his role as Sean Townsend, now the ex-husband of Emily. His drunk dialogues were noteworthy, hinting at the obscure instinct of troubled individuals who resort to self-deprecating humour to make things appear alright.

Lively depicts Emily Nelson effectively by dextrously navigating her villainous cruel side and intermittently showcasing the pure vulnerability that inevitably leads to strength despite her dynamic masked front. Kendrick delivers a performance fully equivalent to a contemporary controlling influencer mom who literally wants to handle everything in front of her as she sees fit, combatting fist for fist and brains for brains- act first and think at the same time, or you’re dead.

The location— I mean, do I need to even write about Capri? Capri è così bella! The cinematography plus the incessant sarcasm makes this a great Italian summer watch! If you are into dark comedic murders and enjoyed the first part, just go for it. It’s like a holiday trip to Italy anyway.