A Simple Favor

Lionsgate | Release Date: September 14, 2018

6.9	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 236 Ratings

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DenissenSep 19, 2018

What was meant to be a noir/comedy thriller, is lacking in suspense, humor, and interesting story line. The start off the movie had potential for an twisted rendezvous between two women with odd backgrounds, but ends in an obvious and dullWhat was meant to be a noir/comedy thriller, is lacking in suspense, humor, and interesting story line. The start off the movie had potential for an twisted rendezvous between two women with odd backgrounds, but ends in an obvious and dull ending. Personally the movie felt uninspiring and just tedious.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

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TrevorsViewSep 20, 2018

Sure, it’s got lots of pretty clothes that would be the hotspot sale on Black Friday. Sure, it’s got Anna Kendrick, whom many say is a role model because of her outer beauty. But you know what? Neither of those things matter, because they’reSure, it’s got lots of pretty clothes that would be the hotspot sale on Black Friday. Sure, it’s got Anna Kendrick, whom many say is a role model because of her outer beauty. But you know what? Neither of those things matter, because they’re relied on to hold up a film high in fructose. The sugar of A Simple Favor may taste sweet, except the rush of its evil intentions churns regret once your health turns detrimental after swallowing its poorly put together eye candy.

At least the candy does look sweet in its display case; the makeup crew demonstrate tremendous effort to bring out Anna Kendrick’s beauty with or without mascara. The costume designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus (The Cider House Rules, Hidden Figures) also complements the Pitch Perfect star well while keeping it supportive toward the narrative. Kalfus dresses Anna in a big yellow jacket to divert our attention from any covered-up intentions, just one of the many popping colors that complement the film’s desired retro style. The look remains consistent right from the opening credits that flash against zesty Spanish music, carrying on these sharp colors to contrast two sides of our ideal 2018 American woman.

On one end, there are Anna Kendrick’s cutesy Pinterest mom DIY projects. On the other, there is Blake Lively’s aesthetics of a woman paid more than a man. Now as for the costar’s character, Blake first appears with high heels pounding on wet cement, a growing image of sophistication that still can’t match the size of her secretive closet. Between these two, they supposedly become close friends after knowing each other for just a couple of days, as represented by a friendship bracelet Anna makes for Blake. No, it doesn’t matter if Blake has a painting of her “pet beaver” in the living room, there’s just something about these two that meshes well.
There’s where the problem with this film starts.

The two leads’ “close” friendship of what looks like two days is never believable, mainly because of the awful writing void of any believable grief that gives neither actress any depth to work off. Blake Lively’s character is merely overpowered, but even if this had the best writer in the world, it wouldn’t help much. Blake just puts on her own show without any chemistry with anyone in the cast. Odds are, she decided to play a mother who chugs alcohol around little kids by merely acting as if drunk on a typical Saturday night.

In fact, there was probably some alcohol hopping all over the sets during the production, as it appears these producers like to annihilate a child’s innocence by making one little boy drop an F-bomb hard. That’s fine if it serves story purpose, except it doesn’t, it just comes off forced and lazy, and nobody seemed to bother giving the child actor any context of what he was screaming.

There literally is no other attention to story anywhere else, as one missed opportunity for clever symbolism sticks out: after one police officer mentions following metaphorical bread crumbs to solve a case, the very next scene features Caesar salad with bread crumbs in it. It tries to connect to a Hansel & Gretel scenario where Anna feels like the two children inside Blake the witch’s mega-expensive gingerbread house of a home, unfortunately that piece of symbolism has no payoff. In addition, many unnecessary flashbacks get explained again the same way immediately after thrown into the final edit. As if the storytelling isn’t lazy enough, Anna claims to be a “struggling” single mom—yet can purchase expensive technology for her mommy vlog… and the occasional spy equipment. Can’t make this stuff up, folks!

In most every role Anna plays nowadays, she’s either a clueless love interest (like in The Accountant) or “Slutty McSlut-slut,” (like in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates) but here, Anna combines the cluelessness with the sex-object in a way that thinks it’s so classy. Part of the problem is that most of the project’s other creative minds have comedic backgrounds, resulting in a collaborated direction that moves too quick, and Anna, unfortunately, being the leading role, gets the last laugh. If these producers wanted to cast her purely for the marketing, they didn’t even do that right! Case in point: the little black dress Anna wears in the poster is never shown in the movie itself—just a longer version of it. Hey, got to show those legs to lure in those box office numbers!

There truly is evil lurking everywhere in this wannabee thriller with an ultimate intent on not suspense, but advertising whatever the celebs are wearing. So, do yourself A Simple Favor by avoiding this Macy’s commercial.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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BroyaxApr 14, 2019

Un film qui semble appétissant, au moins pour ses deux protagonistes principales, l'adorable petite brune et la grande vampe blonde, une sorte de fantasme sexuel sur pattes (à 4 pattes je veux dire) très lively en effet. L'antinomie deUn film qui semble appétissant, au moins pour ses deux protagonistes principales, l'adorable petite brune et la grande vampe blonde, une sorte de fantasme sexuel sur pattes (à 4 pattes je veux dire) très lively en effet. L'antinomie de caractère et de fascination réciproque entre les deux copines semble d'ailleurs suggérer une belle amitié lesbienne mais il n'en est rien, hélas...

Excusez mon machisme, je vois du cul partout... surtout quand je m'emmerde dans un film à la con qui mélange les genres et se mélange les pinceaux dans un scénario très prétentieux, très lent, alambiqué et foireux qui tente d'imiter ou plutôt de singer les thrillers déjà vus et passés, allant même jusqu'à citer "les diaboliques" (sic !).

Mais cette grosse merde n'a rien de diabolique, car elle hésite entre la comédie, le drame et le thriller, le suspense... et la sitcom ! Le tout est imbuvable et carrément grotesque... et tellement chiant qu'on ne tient pas jusqu'à la fin, loin de là !… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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MonkiReviewsJan 5, 2019

The movie isn’t intense, funny, scaring, and it’s predictable. The begging was actually pretty good. The characters are interesting and the story isn’t bad. The acting was fine as well. The middle of the movie had some intense scenes, butThe movie isn’t intense, funny, scaring, and it’s predictable. The begging was actually pretty good. The characters are interesting and the story isn’t bad. The acting was fine as well. The middle of the movie had some intense scenes, but other than that it was boring, unfunny, and bland. The ending was pretty predictable as well as hard to believe any of it could happen in real life. The ending wasn’t intense either. I didn’t enjoy it, and don’t recommend people to watch the movie.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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QuartzcatJan 22, 2020

Mega Contrived. Poor script. Cannot believe the positive reviews it got. The film fails to be edgy / noir or witty. Comes off as a lame attempt.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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horriblefilmzJan 3, 2021

This is the WORST movie I have ever watched. Filled with cheesy, corny, distasteful jokes and interactions. Just horrible... save yourself

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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McMoviesJan 29, 2021

This was a horrific 2 hours of my life I will never get back. From the first moments I knew I was in for a cinematic disaster. For the love of god, if your girlfriend suggests you watch this... please just run. Leave your house and don't comeThis was a horrific 2 hours of my life I will never get back. From the first moments I knew I was in for a cinematic disaster. For the love of god, if your girlfriend suggests you watch this... please just run. Leave your house and don't come back for a few days until she forgets about it. The grandiose plot was nonsensical at best, with disjointed scenes sprinkled throughout in some grotesque sort of proud arrangement. The acting by all cast members was atrocious, and I had to actively cover my face as I cringed frequently throughout. In fact I have a muscle cramp in my face from all the jaw clenching I did these past 2 hours. The only thing suppressing my rage was my desire to continue my relationship, as each passing moment I felt an ever increasing desire to smash my television. I cannot go on any further as I feel due for a nervous breakdown if I spend anymore time in my life thinking about this sad excuse for a film. Alas, I feel my nightmares will be full of a simple favor tonight.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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