Review of A Simple Favor (2018) by Kj P — 15 Sep 2018

I always enjoy films that surprise me. Since the beginning of the film industry, the awe and wonder of going to the movies has always been the joy of seeing the movie itself. Whether a mystery film gives you a great plot twist or a comedy makes you laugh harder than you have ever laughed before, getting more than what you expect is always a plus. A Simple Favor is one of the latest films to receive a book-to-film adaption, and while many of those movies are ripped apart by fans of the novels, I have always been someone who watches the movie for the movie, regardless if I have read the book or not. In this particular case, this entire premise was new to me upon viewing the first trailer, so I went into this film completely cold, which is why I think I enjoyed it so much. If you're a fan of mystery in any form of the word, then I believe you'll share in the experience of having a great time at the movies with this one.

A Simple Favor follows Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively) as their kids want to hang out with each other after school, which allows them to form a friendship of their very own. After Emily asks Stephanie to watch her son for a while, she completely vanishes, not answering phone calls, texts, emails, etc. Stephanie, along with Emily's husband, Sean (Henry Golding), do their very best to uncover the mystery of her absence, while possibly even forming a bond of their own. This film is filled with plot twists that I never saw coming and a conclusion that not only flips this genre on its head but also has a dark comedy element as well, which is probably due to the fact that Paul Feig was at the helm.

Although not written by him, director Paul Feig has been known for his comedies in Bridesmaids, The Heat, and Spy, all of which I have thoroughly enjoyed. It was a surprise to see him tackling a dramatic mystery, but when you really sit back and experience this film for all that it is, it's quite comical under the surface. Aside from maybe Bridesmaids, this may actually be my favourite film of his. Written by Jessica Sharzer (Nerve, American Horror Story) and newcomer Darcey Bell, it was very clear that they were the ones who kept this film on track in terms of the dramatic tone and clever plot twists, but it's very apparent that Paul Feig had some fun with it when piecing it all together when filming began. This film is a true mix of both.

Even though I'd almost say that I loved this movie, I do have to admit that I fear some audiences may be turned off by the comedic undertone. If you're not the type of viewer who can accept a comedic beat that immediately follows a tragic incident, then A Simple Favor may be a little too uneven for you. It worked for me, personally, but I can see where the criticism may come into play. To myself, this is a very well-written and well-directed film from beginning to end, with a lot of attention to detail.

Overall, A Simple Favor kind of came out of nowhere for me. I wasn't aware this film was coming out and I'm glad it got a wide release for everyone to see. If you're looking for a film to surprise you, this may end up being one of your most memorable film experiences of 2018. While I can't see it receiving any big nominations, it deserves far more attention than what it's currently getting. Through all its plot twists and comedic elements, I found myself completely engaged with this story. A Simple Favor is a pleasant surprise of a movie that I highly recommend.