Paul Feig’s Another Simple Favor (2025) is a deliriously entertaining sequel that doubles down on the dark humor, razor-sharp wit, and jaw-dropping twists that made its 2018 predecessor a cult favorite. Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick return as Emily Nelson and Stephanie Smothers, the ultimate frenemies whose toxic bond evolves into a high-stakes game of deception, wealth, and survival. Clocking in at 120 minutes, the film delivers a sleek, stylish thriller that blends campy excess with biting social commentary—a cocktail as intoxicating as Emily’s signature martinis.

The Art of Twisted Storytelling

The sequel picks up years after Emily’s supposed death, with Stephanie (Kendrick) having parlayed their shared trauma into a bestselling memoir. Her quiet suburban life shatters when Emily (Lively) resurfaces, now entangled in a web of money laundering and murder tied to a lavish Italian wedding. Screenwriters Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis craft a plot that’s both absurdly convoluted and devilishly clever, layering betrayals and reveals with the precision of a Swiss watch. Director Paul Feig leans into the absurdity, balancing Hitchcockian suspense with moments of slapstick humor—think Gone Girl meets Clue, but with better tailoring.

The film’s Rotten Tomatoes score of 73% undersells its audacity. Critics like Brian Tallerico (Roger Ebert) praise its "twist-heavy" narrative, though some note it lacks the original’s narrative tightness. Yet this looseness becomes a strength, allowing the story to revel in its own excess. From a $60,000 revenge gown to a shootout in a Tuscan vineyard, Another Simple Favor embraces its over-the-top identity, offering a satirical take on wealth, performative femininity, and the myth of female solidarity.

Lively & Kendrick: A Duo Reborn

The heart of the film lies in its leads. Blake Lively’s Emily remains a magnetic force of chaos—a walking paradox of Chanel-clad ruthlessness and vulnerability. Her icy charisma is perfectly countered by Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie, whose "sweet mommy vlogger" façade masks a calculating survivor. Their chemistry crackles in scenes that oscillate between faux affection and thinly veiled hostility. When Emily purrs, "Trust is such a fragile thing, isn’t it?" during a champagne-soaked confrontation, Lively delivers the line with a smirk that could curdle milk.

New additions like Michele Morrone as a smoldering Italian billionaire and Allison Janney as a nosy FBI agent add flavor without overshadowing the central duo. Henry Golding’s Sean Townsend—Emily’s morally ambiguous ex—also returns, serving as both pawn and provocateur in the women’s power struggle.

Fashion as Weaponry

Costume designer Renée Ehrlich Kalfus turns clothing into narrative shorthand. Emily’s wardrobe—a mix of power suits and blood-red evening dresses—mirrors her lethal ambition. One standout sequence features her dismantling a rival while adjusting a diamond choker, the jewels glinting like shards of broken trust. Stephanie’s transformation from cardigan-clad suburbanite to a scheming antiheroine is equally visual, her pastel sweaters gradually replaced by sleek monochrome ensembles.

The Italian setting amplifies the opulence. Cinematographer John Schwartzman bathes scenes in golden-hour light, contrasting the sun-drenched beauty of Tuscany with the ugliness beneath its surface. A masquerade ball sequence—where hidden identities and poisoned wine collide—showcases Feig’s knack for blending visual splendor with narrative tension.

Themes: Sisterhood in the Age of Scams

Beneath the glossy surface, Another Simple Favor interrogates modern womanhood. Emily and Stephanie aren’t allies but predators circling the same prey: societal validation. Emily weaponizes wealth and sexuality; Stephanie leverages maternal innocence and social media savvy. Their rivalry reflects a culture that pits women against each other while demanding they perform camaraderie.

The film also skewers late-stage capitalism. A subplot involving art forgery and offshore bank accounts feels ripped from Succession, with Emily quipping, "Darling, money isn’t dirty—it’s just poorly laundered". Even the Italian mafia subplot plays as dark farce, their violence rendered almost quaint compared to the protagonists’ psychological warfare.

Audience Appeal & Cultural Resonance

For fans of the original, the sequel delivers deeper character exploration while escalating the stakes. Newcomers will appreciate its standalone narrative, though inside jokes—like callback references to Emily’s "death" and Stephanie’s viral blog—reward loyal viewers. The film’s TikTok-ready moments (e.g., Emily’s "How to Poison Someone" tutorial) and meme-worthy dialogue ensure social media longevity.

Prime Video’s May 1 release strategy capitalizes on post-Oscar season fatigue, positioning the film as a frothy yet substantive alternative to awards bait. Its blend of mystery and dark comedy hits a sweet spot between Knives Out’s intellect and Bridesmaids’ irreverence.

Flaws in the Fabric

Not all risks pay off. The third act’s breakneck pacing occasionally sacrifices emotional beats, and a subplot involving Stephanie’s son feels undercooked. Some twists strain credulity—even by the franchise’s standards—including a last-minute resurrection that borders on self-parody. Yet these missteps feel intentional, part of the film’s commitment to campy excess.

Final Verdict: A Guilty Pleasure Without the Guilt

Another Simple Favor succeeds by refusing to take itself seriously while delivering razor-sharp insights. It’s a film where haute couture and homicide coexist seamlessly, where every compliment carries a threat, and where sisterhood is less a bond than a battlefield. As the credits roll—and a post-credits teaser hints at Emily’s inevitable return—viewers are left craving another round of this deliciously toxic cocktail.