Another Simple Favor

It seems rare these days that something truly new and original arrives at your local theater and genuinely wows you. But that’s exactly what happened with the release of A Simple Favor in 2018, with its twisty plot and dark comedy helping it turn a solid profit. Unfortunately, that kind of success almost always screams “sequel,” and what was a fantastic one-off movie now gets a follow-up that feels like it’s being made just to make more money. That doesn’t mean something good can’t come of it—especially with everyone returning from the original—but it’s hard to catch lightning in a bottle twice. Another Simple Favor just can’t do it.

After the events of the first movie, Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) has gained fame for her amateur detective skills. She’s written a book and is about to do a reading at a bookstore when a ghost from her recent past walks in—Emily (Blake Lively). You’d think there would be some bad blood, but instead, Emily invites Stephanie to her wedding in Capri—an invitation she insists Stephanie cannot refuse. So, along with her assistant Vicky (Alex Newell), Stephanie heads to Italy, convinced Emily has revenge in mind.

Once there, she reunites with Sean (Henry Golding) and meets Emily’s future husband, Dante (Michele Morrone), along with his family. The tension escalates further when Emily’s Aunt Linda (Allison Janney) arrives, bringing along Emily’s mother, Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins). Needless to say, things get a little crazy, and once again, Stephanie finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery she has to solve.

Written by Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis, Another Simple Favor tries too hard to recapture the magic of the first film. But things have changed, and the story acts like they haven’t. The film leans heavily on rehashed jokes, visual gags, and twists that feel tired. The real issue, though, is the absence of the cat-and-mouse dynamic between the two leads, which gave the original so much of its spark. What’s also missing is the suspense of not knowing what’s coming next. This time, everything feels telegraphed—and the film often takes too long to get to the destinations you already see coming.

Another Simple Favor does an okay job of reviving some elements from the first film—mainly the sleek visuals and stylish costumes, which are top-notch. But we’re not just here for the looks. If we were, this movie would pass with flying colors. The problem is, there’s nothing new here. And when a sequel doesn’t add anything fresh or improve upon the original, you have to wonder: what’s the point?

As for the cast, Kendrick remains the standout and once again shines as Stephanie. Lively is as stylish as ever, but neither of them can make up for the shortcomings in the story. The first film delivered heat. This one feels much cooler—and that’s a shame, because I wanted to like it. In the end, it’s just another subpar sequel.