A Simple Favor movie review

posted in: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery | 0

Movie Title:   A SIMPLE FAVOR

Grade:   A-

Rating:  R, 116 minutes

In a Nutshell:   It turns out that this mysterious thriller is actually a dark comedy.  Based on the book A Simple Favor [Movie Tie-in]: A Novel, the movie is twisty and twisted.  This film really surprised me.  I love being surprised.

The audience I sat with absolutely loved the movie and saw the clever humor in everything.  It’s always so much fun to watch a movie with an audience that really gets a movie and loves it.  Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively have fantastic chemistry together and really sell this movie.

 

 

 

Tips for parents: 

  • Profanity, including TONS of F-bombs
  • Lots of alcohol.  The Aviation American gin used in the martinis is actually owned by Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively’s husband.
  • A character uses heroine
  • Talk of a threesome
  • Sibling sex scene in bed with some clothes on.   ICK.  Super gross.
  • Two women kiss
  • Nude paintings
  • Lots of cleavage and a naked backside
  • Murder scene
  • Someone asks, “Are you a mother?”  The other lady answers, “Yes.  I love every minute” and then the first person says, “Then you must have brain damage.”   What a terrible thing to say.  Parenting is very hard, but be sure to let your kids know that you love them.  Don’t ever let your kids think they’re a mistake and not wanted.
  • The characters in the movie have a serious lack of good judgment.

 

 Uplifting theme: 

  • Friendship – Choose your friends wisely
  • Marriage
  • Trust
  • Parenting
  • Greed
  • Honesty
  • Re-set your life

 

Things I liked:

  • Pitch Perfectfans will love watching Anna Kendrick in this movie.  She even gets to rap a little bit.
  • The writing by Jessica Sharzer and Darcey Bell was very good.  Darcey’s novel was changed a bit for the story in the movie, but that’s kind of what always happens, right?
  • Directed by Paul Feig, this movie blends genres and pokes fun at everything.
  • Great job with the movie trailer and poster.  They were delightfully misleading.  Normally, I get ticked off for something like that, but this time it was a pleasant surprise.
  • Some will like the fashion aspect of the film.  Costume design is very good.  Blake Lively is gorgeous.  Have I mentioned that already?
  • The French movie Diabolique  gets a shout-out in this movie.  Have you seen it?  Neither have I.  Sounds intriguing though, right?

 

 

Things I didn’t like:

  • I hate seeing gossipy, back-stabbing moms in movies.  Even more in real life.  I guess I just hate admitting that vicious people like that really exist.
  • The tone really changes from Act One to Act Three.
  • Some really cray cray decisions.

 

 

Funny lines:

  • “Prudes are people too.” – Emily Nelson (Blake Lively)
  • “You’re such a nerd.” – Emily
  • “She doesn’t know she’s working for free.” – Darren (Andrew Rannells)
  • “America’s hybrids…silent, but deadly.” – Darren

 

 

Interesting lines:

  • “I think loneliness probably kills more people than cancer.” – Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick)
  • “She’s like a beautiful ghost.” – Sean Townsend (Henry Golding)

 

  

@trinaboice

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Author, university professor

Author of 23 books, university professor, mom of 4 awesome sons, movie critic, ice cream lover. Check out her world travels and tips at www.EmptyNestTravelHacker.com

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