A Simple Favor

It's been a pretty lousy and forgettable time at the movies lately, which isn't exactly a surprise in September, aka back-to-school season. 

Outside of Searching, the average score for the last four films I've seen (Mile 22, The Happytime Murders, The Nun, and The Predator) is at a paltry 5.5 (rounding a bit). That's a far cry and substantial difference from my regular mid/low 7 averages and its months like these that begin to drag on this hobby. 

But, much like Searching, you then get unique films that can surprise you and entertain you, often where you're not looking. A Simple Favor is, surprisingly, one such film. 

I've been looking forward to this one because...ahem...I have a massive crush on Blake Lively. To be fair, I have a pretty decent crush on Anna Kendrick too. So sue me! The girlfriend has been interested in it because she likes mysteries (and likely the fashion throughout) so we decided to catch an early morning showing.

Despite being about 15 minutes too long, we both found ourselves entertained and thrilled at where the film twists, turns, inserts humor, and many other things. It's one that you enjoy a lot in the moment and could (read: will likely) grow on me as the year goes on. 

Luckily the creative marketing team with A Simple Favor were wise enough to keep their secrets tight-lipped; a rarity in Hollywood these days. Initial trailers oozed with style, much like the film does, but barely gave anything away other than there was some mystery afoot and it was likely a cause of Blake Lively's mysterious Emily. Even the marketing almost had me thinking the title was "What Happened to Emily?" at one point. It was mystery marketing done right and in retrospect added a lot to the film where I had no preconceived notions going in. The resulting plot threatens to go off the rails at the end -- as most mysterious do -- but the core tone and direction are nailed throughout. A handful of subplots, mainly about Kendrick's past, weren't really needed in film form even though they were likely interesting in the novel. It's here that a significant amount of time could have been trimmed and A Simple Favor really does stall-out between a pivotal early discovery and the rush to end. To its credit though, I never felt like I was a step ahead of its mystery, though I didn't fall for many of its red herrings either. 

I mean...who the hell else could pull off what Lively is wearing right now?

Like I said...oozes style

Favor drips with style throughout, something I'm not sure I've really ever noticed about Feig's direction. In many sequences it felt like a lighter Gone Girl, which is a total compliment given how fantastic that film was. The cinematography has its moments, the music is jazzy and fitting, and the constant focus on fashion, lifestyle, and gin martinis (gin supplied by Lively's hubby's company) makes it feel like equal parts Bond-film mystery and trashy day-time soap. That combination ends up being fairly intoxicating in a unique and original way and with kids back in school is a perfect "celebration" for many parents to go and check out a more R-rated film that's actually good. His signature humor even makes a handful of appearances, more than I thought it would. I'd even go so far as to say this is a partial comedy if some of the humor wasn't so dark as it relates to the circumstances. Most of it landed in my theater and although none of it is "ZOMG THAT WAS SO FUNNY!", it's amusing and breathes life into the script and these characters.

Even more impressive are Kendrick and Lively as Stephanie and Emily, respectively. Kendrick's Stephanie is endearing as a widowed single mother who is "super-mom" and has very few friends. Kendrick's journey from simple suburbia mom to a person experiencing the finer things in life and solving a murder is entertaining to watch and handled with ease. Kendrick has the most screen time and she owns the role and proves to be a strong compliment to the alluring Emily. Emily is almost her antithesis, someone who seems borderline disinterested in her child and even more so disinterested in the fact that she's not a great mother. Lively's performance of this sultry, crude, irresistible enigma is sincerely awards-worthy, especially once the full plot unfolds. She commands the screen, even more than Kendrick, with a dry, dark wit and expert delivery of serious or comedic lines. You come to feel, in your gut, that something is deeply wrong about her, but you can't figure out exactly why. Normally Lively is mesmerizing on looks alone (still is), but in A Simple Favor, she's alluring in much the same way that Rosamund Pike was in Gone Girl. Definitely not as savage, but the similarities are there in subtle ways. 

"Isn't that Rath's Review guy like soooo buff?"
"Oh my gawd, yes"
^^ Actual conversation that will never happen, unfortunately

My reasons for looking forward to A Simple Favor may have been shallow, but it results in one of the more surprising trips to the theater this year. The performances and direction are top notch with a screenplay that move things along at a brisk pace aside from a mid-way slowdown. It's a fantastic little thriller/comedy mix that has enough style to it that it'll make you want to go back and make a gin martini (instructions included in the film) with award-winning Aviation Gin*!

*Mr. Reynolds I accept promotion payment by Venmo, cash, or check.

CONS

• A few subplots that were likely key in the novel feel a bit empty and unneeded here
• 15 minutes too long -- stalls a tad in the middle
• Nearly goes off the rails at the end

PROS

• Unique style and feel to the film. Extravagance mixed with a tad of trash
• Solid cinematography, music choice, editing, and pacing
• Feig shifts genres and finds success
• Well-placed humor without an over-focus on it
• Interesting and captivating plot that will keep you guessing
• Kudos to the marketing that didn't give anything away!
• Kendrick is a perfect centerpiece for the film
• Lively's performance is one of the most mesmerizing of the year. A lot of that is thanks to the script, but even more of it is thanks to her delivery, both verbal and physical
• Great "for adults" trip to the theaters now that kids are back in school

Rath's Review Score | 8/10