‘Another Simple Favor’ Review: Blake Lively & Anna Kendrick Reunite in Paul Feig’s Stylish Italian Murder Mystery Sequel

ReviewsSXSWFilmFilm FestivalNew MovieMovie PremierePremiereMoviesActorsSequelsDirectorsThe Cinema GroupOpinion

Mar 17

The SXSW 2025 Opener Brings Back the Twists, Turns, and Killer Chemistry of the Original

Paul Feig’s Another Simple Favor proves that some sequels are worth the wait. While it’s his first time directing a follow-up, the filmmaker slips back into this world with ease, delivering a stylish, sharp-witted murder mystery that feels both effortlessly familiar and refreshingly unpredictable.

Picking up five years after the events of the 2018 film, Another Simple Favor reunites mommy blogger-turned-true crime author Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) and the ever-mysterious, fashion-forward con artist Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). This time, the frenemies find themselves in the middle of another deadly game—one set against the stunning backdrop of Capri, Italy. Emily, recently released from prison, has found her next victim… or rather, her next husband. She invites Stephanie to be the maid of honor in her wedding to Italian heir Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), but the celebration quickly takes a sinister turn when guests start turning up dead.

Despite her better judgment, Stephanie once again gets pulled into Emily’s orbit. Why would she accept an invitation from the woman who ruined her life? The answer is simple: Emily knows how to dangle the perfect bait. She teases that Stephanie’s new book—an exposé about the events of the first film—might not make it to print unless she agrees to take part in the wedding. And just like that, their twisted, magnetic dynamic is reignited.

Kendrick and Lively remain the core of what makes Another Simple Favor such a joy. Their chemistry—equal parts toxic and tantalizing—keeps every conversation charged with biting humor and lingering tension. Stephanie, still neurotic but now slightly more confident, remains the perfect foil for Emily’s cool, calculated chaos. Lively is as effortlessly captivating as ever, slipping back into Emily’s silk suits and devilish smirks as if she never left. Kendrick, meanwhile, brings new depth to Stephanie, who, despite her more assured demeanor, can’t seem to escape Emily’s manipulations.

The supporting cast is just as stacked, with returning favorites like Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, and Bashir Salahuddin delivering a steady stream of sharp one-liners. Newcomers like Alex Newell (playing Stephanie’s unapologetic literary agent), Taylor Ortega (as an inept FBI agent), and Allison Janney (as Emily’s shady Aunt Linda) add fresh comedic energy, ensuring that no scene goes without at least one perfectly timed zinger. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Perkins takes over the role of Emily’s estranged mother, bringing her own brand of chaotic physical comedy to the role.

POPULAR ON THE CINEMA GROUP

While the film leans heavily into familiar territory—reusing certain stylistic choices from the first installment, including the now-signature mommy vlog teaser opening—Feig, along with screenwriters Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis, ensures that Another Simple Favor stands on its own. Yes, it brings back some of the same tricks (including a third-act twist that might feel a little too familiar), but it does so with a knowing wink, embracing the camp and excess that made the original such a hit.

One of the biggest questions lingering over the sequel is whether Emily can redeem herself after the ruthless betrayals of the first film. The answer? It’s complicated. Feig smartly shifts the focus, making sure Emily isn’t the most unhinged person in the room anymore—a risky move that ultimately pays off. Rather than simply rehashing the first film’s dynamic, Another Simple Favor allows its characters to evolve, even as they remain trapped in a cycle of deception and double-crosses.

The result is a slick, fast-paced thriller that delivers plenty of twists, designer outfits, and dark humor—exactly what fans of the original signed up for. And with a few well-placed nods to another iconic Italian-set trilogy (The Godfather), the film even leaves the door open for a third installment. If Feig and company decide to complete the trilogy, Yet Another Simple Favor might just be on the horizon.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Another Simple Favor

Festival: SXSW (Headliner)

Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios

Release date: May 1, 2025

Director: Paul Feig

Screenwriters: Jessica Sharzer, Laeta Kalogridis

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, Allison Janney

Running time: 2 hrs