The unexpectedly delightful gem that was Paul Feig’s (pronounced FEEG) 2018 A Simple Favor set a new standard for me. It came at a time when I was deep in my cynicism era and reminded me to give seemingly questionable films a chance—because sometimes they don’t just not suck, they completely flip expectations and end up being kind of amazing. The Blake Lively Effect When the first film came out, Blake Lively was at her peak—cool, stylish, and somehow still relatable, even while name-dropping Taylor Swift and talking about her drugstore makeup routine before the Met Gala. She had Ryan Reynolds on her arm, the funny guy turned global superstar, and together they made trolling each other on social media look sweet, clever, and kind of genius. They blurred the lines between work, romance, and branding, and made it all look easy. Even the cynical part of me thought, Okay, but surely they secretly hate each other, right? Still, Lively alone was reason enough to tune in, especially for anyone who didn’t find “cups” girl Anna Kendrick (yes, cups + Anna Kendrick — Google it) a strong enough draw. Ok, forget it, I’ll just put the video below. Fast forward 7 years, and some things have changed. Kendrick dated Bill Hader in the interim. Just saying. And Kendrick, is coming off her newly minted directorial debut and critical success,"Woman of the Hour," a true crime story about a serial killer who appeared on The Dating Game and which slightly subverts the whole victim-perp dynamic by get this, focusing on the experiences of the victims rather than the killer’s motives. Wild, I know. The film and Kendrick garnered a ton of praise, with one critic stating, “"Deftly directed by star Anna Kendrick, Woman of the Hour uses an incredible true story as the foundation for a powerful examination of the intersection between systemic misogyny and violence.” And then there’s Lively. This past year hasn’t been smooth for Blake Lively’s reputation. Her involvement in the controversial retelling of a domestic abuse-themed Cinderella story, It Ends with Us, essentially showing the cycle of abuse handed down generationally while weirdly romanticizing Ryle, the abuser (played by Justin Baldoni), didn't land well. The film flopped, primarily because it came off as tone-deaf to many. I thought it was fine. Not great, but I didn’t immediately pick up on the problematic angle (and I walked away with a whole new playlist). But the court of public opinion was merciless. Adding to the fallout was that Lively and Baldoni weren’t seen doing any press together once the film was released, fueling speculation. As it turns out, the behind-the-scenes drama between Lively and Baldoni, who also served as the film’s director and producer, was more dramatic than the story they told on screen. The tension reportedly escalated to the point of lawsuits, and there’s now a Max docuseries unpacking all of it. The title, In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni says enough about the “ripped from the headlines” E! True Hollywood Story vibe. Even Lively’s friendship with Taylor Swift took a hit. Rumor has it she was left off the Super Bowl guest list because Swift didn’t want to be dragged into the legal mess, which she reportedly was, against her comfort level. That said, I admit I’m kind of impressed by Blake comparing herself to Khaleesi from Game of Thrones, and suggesting Reynolds and Swift are her dragons. It’s a pretty solid analogy and clever, too, pulling from prestige TV and pop culture like that. So what does all this have to do with the film sequel for A Simple Favor? All of this makes Lively’s return in Another Simple Favor [trailer] feel a bit more high-stakes. She’s re-entering a space where she once thrived and was considered stylish, unbothered, and sharp-tongued, but now with more baggage, battle scars, and scrutiny. The question is whether she can slip back into Emily’s stilettos and reclaim that icy cool magic, or whether the off-screen noise will drown out the fun. Either way, it adds a new layer of intrigue to the sequel and higher stakes for Lively and her near-term film prospects. Then there’s the female friendship angle and rumors that the two leading stars, Lively and Kendrick, don’t get along. Does it matter? At its core, A Simple Favor is about the seductive pull of mommy friendships—the kind that feel like a lifeline when you meet that one mom who’s just edgy enough, effortlessly cool, and a total breath of fresh air compared to the usual tightly wound PTA clique. It’s about the lengths we’ll go to lock in that bond, to hold onto the one person who makes suburbia feel a little less suffocating. Both Emily and Stephanie, and by extension the actors who portray them, do a good job of walking the oftentimes precarious tightrope walk that is trust. A Simple Favor is at its best psychologically, and don’t get me wrong, it is very much a psychological thriller, when it causes you to doubt all of your assumptions and do this several times over. It keeps you continually guessing and in awe of Lively’s fashion and Kendrick’s character Single White Female-ing her attire (and life). Down to Brass Tacks Quick Summary of A Simple Favor, the first film: Small-town Type-A mommy vlogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) befriends the glamorous and mysterious Emily (Blake Lively), and gets pulled into a world far darker than her usual mommy and me routine. Stephanie is pretty unpopular with the other moms, making her friendship with Emily all the more appealing. After Emily suddenly vanishes, Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate—only to uncover secrets, lies, and twists that force her to question everything she thought she knew about her friend, her own life, and the truth itself. Another Simple Favor, the sequel, now streaming on Prime, picks up five years later with Emily and Stephanie reuniting post Emily’s prison stint and with the formerly drab Stephanie (Kendrick)blossoming into a successful true crime author. Why not a podcaster? Emily is marrying a wealthy Italian businessman (all eye candy), so the new film promises gorgeous Italian backdrops with stylish, effortless clothing. Another standout addition to these films is Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians), who plays Emily’s ex and later becomes Stephanie’s lover. He has the kind of charm that makes a woman consider doing bad things, as the first film conveys. Alright, so I’m now T minus 5 hours till I watch Another Simple Favor with Thai food (sadly, no Italian for me, despite the film's Capri locale) tonight. I’m also the person who thinks wearing mismatched socks is a sign of confidence. Anywho, wish me luck. I’m in for a delectably visual feast of Feeg-ian proportions, no doubt. Let’s Discuss: Are you excited for this sequel? Where do you fall on the Lively fodder? Over it? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bethlisogorsky.substack.com/subscribe
