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:
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- Blake Lively is gorgeous and talented. She seemed to tap into her real-life husband’s edgy Deadpool vibe for this role.
- If you liked Crazy Rich Asians (Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Combo Pack) (BD), you’ll love that Henry Golding plays the husband in this movie. Click here to see my movie review of Crazy Rich Asians.
- 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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