‘Another Simple Favor’: Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively Crackle Under the Capri Sun in Breezy Murder Mystery Sequel

Alci Rengifo

There is an old-fashioned enjoyment to the silly antics of a dramedy like “Another Simple Favor.” Like some brisk affair you’re supposed to just have fun with it for what it is, and maybe you won’t remember much of it by next week. Another factor is how much you click with its stars, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, who have a natural chemistry that compensates for the script’s slapped together twists. Director Paul Feig’s latest is also his first sequel, following up his 2018 hit “A Simple Favor.” It mixed the filmmakers’ touch for raunchy laughs with a plot borrowing from true crime and dozens of murder mysteries. The sequel prefers to become more of an ensemble mystery, involving Italian mobsters and sun-kissed Capri.

Five years have passed since suburban single mom Stephanie Smothers (Kendrick) was caught in a web of deceit by Emily (Lively). Now her influencer status has grown and she is publishing a book on the whole ordeal. Things can’t be better until Emily suddenly appears at one of Stephanie’s book signing events, announcing she has been let out early from prison. Yet, she doesn’t seek revenge, instead Emily wants Stephanie to be her maid of honor. Having apparently reformed her murderous, identity-switching ways, Emily has found love with a hunky Italian, Dante (Michele Morrone). The wedding is set to take place in Capri, where Emily’s bitter ex, literature professor Sean (Henry Golding), drowns in booze after being ordered by the courts to bring their son, Nicky (Ian Ho). Has Emily truly changed? The question deepens when tragedy strikes the wedding party.

“This was really because of Blake and Anna,” Feig told Entertainment Voice about returning to these characters. “I love working with them and they’re such wonderful collaborators. I think these characters are perfect for them. We had such fun on the first one. These characters have room to grow and go into a completely foreign situation.” There is a sense all through the movie of the cast genuinely having a good time. Controversy has recently been following Lively over her legal standoff with Justin Baldoni, yet it’s easy to forget because of how easily she gets back into the rough-edged charm of Emily. What works is that no one necessarily repeats themselves. Lively plays Emily like the former convict truly trying to convince Stephanie that she has changed, even if Dante turns out to be a mobster, dominated by his cosa nostra mom Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci). Sean has switched from the erudite writer of the first movie into an angry, drunken slob downing a bottle in the shower. 

After a shocking turn of events at the wedding and some subsequent deaths, Stephanie has to jump back into suburban mom Nancy Drew mode, with more urgency when she’s framed for the murders. A colorful crop of side characters is added. Emily’s mother Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins taking over from Jean Smart) gets invited to the wedding with her usual fits caused by dementia, warning the guests that Emily is the spawn of evil. This time, she’s joined by the bride’s aunt, Linda (Allison Janney), who seems more coldly rational. You already know there’s more than meets the eye. As befits this franchise, stunning revelations follow with the gorgeous Capri backdrops. The screenplay by Darcey Bell, Jessica Scharzer and Laeta Kalogridis feels more concerned with the gags than giving the plot any plausibility (murders get hilariously overcomplicated in this movie). A character like FBI Agent Irine Walker (Taylor Ortega) is dropped in for the comedic timing, without having anything consequential to do with the outcome of the story. The breezy escapism is what counts.

“Anna and Blake slipped back into those characters so fast,” said Feig. “The harder part was getting the story right to accommodate them. They were eager to get back into those very fashionable clothes (laughs).” Kendrick and Lively do have a genuine chemistry that crackles. It goes to new places in “Another Simple Favor” because Stephanie still has her good-hearted nature, but no longer trusts Emily, questioning her every move and claim. This then allows Lively to give her character some newfound vulnerability, even empathy. Feig and the writers could have easily opted for repeating the same beats from the original, though this sequel does run a bit too long at 2 hours. Tightening up the proceedings a bit would have made it a stronger entertainment. It can wait too long to get to its most melodramatic twist. Still, “Another Simple Favor” has enough laughs, great vistas and two leads with eclectic forms of star power to keep us invested. The closing scene clearly hints at another chapter. How that goes will depend on who puts on the designer wear next time.

“Another Simple Favor” begins streaming May 1 on Prime Video.