Paul Feig is a filmmaker that has certainly had an interesting career, both behind and in front of the camera. Feig first got his start in small roles in TV and movies, most notably the cult comedy Heavyweights. However, Feig truly took off with the cult TV series Freaks and Geeks, which has since found critical praise. He made his directorial debut with 2003’s I Am David, followed by 2006’s Unaccompanied Minors, neither of which were hits. But then, he directed 2011’s Bridesmaids, which was not only financially successful, but it even received two Oscar nominations. This led to him collaborating with Melissa McCarthy with 2013’s The Heat, 2015’s Spy, and the controversial 2016 Ghostbusters remake. After that film’s critical and financial failure, Feig returns with a somewhat smaller film. That film, based on the novel of the same name, is the newly released thriller, A Simple Favor.
%
Rating
Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a stay-at-home mom who runs her own vlog series where she shares recipes and advice. Things are relatively normal for her until she meets Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), who’s almost the polar opposite of Stephanie. The two become best friends, sharing some of their deepest secrets and talking about their frustrations. as they’re sipping martinis. One day, Stephanie gets a call from Emily, where she’s asked to watch Emily’s son while she’s gone on business. Days pass without a word from Emily, and both her husband Sean Townsend (Henry Golding) and Stephanie fear the worst. Stephanie starts sharing the details about Emily’s disappearance on her vlog, which unexpectedly gets her more attention and support. Eventually, Stephanie starts learning that all is not as it seems, prompting her to investigate further. What follows are several twists and turns as Stephanie goes further down the rabbit hole.
Going into this, I had somewhat mixed expectations given that I really didn’t like the Ghostbusters remake. However, once I saw the critical buzz it was getting, I was more than a little intrigued. Having seen it, I can really see why this film is getting so much acclaim, as it’s a well-crafted thriller. From the opening credits, the movie has the stylings of a 50s/60s thriller with the music and color scheme. The style definitely carries throughout, evoking Hitchcock thrillers like North by Northwest and Rear Window, mixing suspense with comedy. While nowhere near as good as those, this film does balance both genres well without it feeling like tonal whiplash. What also helps the film is the strength of its cast, especially leads Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. They work off each other really well and do a great job in their roles.
I will say that while I was engaged throughout and able to follow along, some might be a bit lost. This is a film that rewards its viewers for paying attention to details and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Admittedly, some of the plot twists are pretty easy to see coming, especially if you’re familiar with the tropes. Also, the plot can be somewhat convoluted and there are some elements that don’t seem to go together. Even still, this is a fun and suspenseful ride that will leave you guessing throughout and leave you on edge. This certainly has made me think differently of Paul Feig, and I’m curious to see what comes next. With great performances, a stylish look, and a captivating story, A Simple Favor is both suspenseful and fun to watch.
