959 reviews
- david-626-148063
- Nov 25, 2018
- Permalink
The movie was quite enjoyable for the longest time. Well paced, well acted (mostly). Then the conclusion happened. Like seriously what where they thinking.
Not only was it bad (I guess that's just an opinion, but still), it was also a lot worse written, paced and acted than the rest of the movie, up to the point where the only explanation is that the producers or SOMEONE wanted the ending changed to... this. The movie would have been a lot better if it just ended half an hour earlier. The ending is one of the worst I have seen in years.
Not only was it bad (I guess that's just an opinion, but still), it was also a lot worse written, paced and acted than the rest of the movie, up to the point where the only explanation is that the producers or SOMEONE wanted the ending changed to... this. The movie would have been a lot better if it just ended half an hour earlier. The ending is one of the worst I have seen in years.
It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen and all the actors play roles they are typically type cast for. It was surprisingly funny though and honestly kind of enjoyable although super far fetched. At least it wasn't the same old recycled trash we've all been seeing lately.
- tonyandaprilfrazier
- Sep 11, 2018
- Permalink
A Simple Favour - CATCH IT (B+)
In recent times, its rare to watch two genres getting mushed into one and still work. A simple favour took the thriller genre and added comedy in a very subtle way. I believe the work works better because of perfect casting of Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. Both girls nailed the part and their chemistry is palpable.
Its a perfect movie for a fun night out. The girls are amazing and movie is a complete fun to watch. Go See It!!!
Its a perfect movie for a fun night out. The girls are amazing and movie is a complete fun to watch. Go See It!!!
Turned this on by chance , looked like a romcom turned out a murder mystery!!
It became a dark comedy thriller with a great lead .
Witty , funny with twists and turns .
Not a boring moment from start to finish !
- kagey-28769
- Nov 13, 2020
- Permalink
This was a film that couldn't decide what it wanted to be. It wasn't quite thrilling, and it wasn't quite funny.
- Eric-Bednarowicz
- Sep 15, 2018
- Permalink
- ferguson-6
- Sep 12, 2018
- Permalink
I've seen so many noir type films that there's nothing surprising to me. I had very low expectations for this film. So it was better than I thought it would be. Fun film.
I'm compelled to review since the current rating of 6.8 vastly under estimates the fun factor of this movie. I found this title after watching Last Christmas which also starred Henry Golding. I assumed it was another chick flick but my husband acquiesced good-naturedly and ended up loving it as much as I did. The dialogue is clever and sometimes LOL funny and, while we did predict a couple of twists, it still delivered some surprises. Anna Kendrick shines as the unlikely "best friend" of Blake Lively. Thoroughly enjoyable.
- jrussell-926-620520
- Aug 20, 2020
- Permalink
I was not too impressed with the audiobook but I decided to give the movie a try. It is fun. Anna Kendrick starts out playing a nerdy mom of a preschool son. Blake Lively plays a larger than life, bitchy sophisticate. The story has a lot of twists and turns. It is funny and visually beautiful with jazzy French music. Jean Smart is awesome as usual but she only has a small part. If you want a movie that you don't need to take too seriously but will be fun, this is a good choice. The story is different from the book and maybe a little more believable. It was interesting to see how much Anna Kendrick's character changes during the movie. I liked it.
- lcase-13401
- Jun 18, 2024
- Permalink
My wife an I were pleasantly surprised by this gem. The two lead actresses did a great job. The first half of the movie kept you engaged. The second half dragged a bit but overall it was a very good film!
- jeffreyhickman
- Sep 16, 2018
- Permalink
Really good watch. It took a little for me to become interested but I like to give movies at least 30 minutes to reel me in, so if at first you are thinking about turning it off take my advice and just wait. I love movies that really keeps you trying to solve the case. I was throwing different theories out the whole time and I was wrong about everyone of them. That, in my opinion, makes a great movie. For a movie that I can solve in the first 45 min is not a great movie. This one would have gotten a 10/10 from me but only received a 7/10 because of the 30 minutes it took for me to get interested and for a few other details I will leave out. Hope you enjoy.
- benjaminstratton-76085
- Apr 25, 2021
- Permalink
Way too much comedy for me to take seriously as a thriller and way too convuluted of a plot for me appreciate as a drama. There was a time at the end when it keeps trying to pack twist on top of twist that I thought maybe it was trying to be a spoof of the recent suburb noir thrillers in the vein of Gone Girl but the movie didn't feel aware enough to me to play this angle. It just felt like they had a thriller they realized was boring so they spiced it up with a bunch of funny dialogue or they had a comedy they tried to make more serious for whatever reason. Neither played well. Although the cast is solid for the most part. I will watch Anna Kendrick stare at a wall for two hours and still wouldnt feel like I wasted my time.
- zombieskeagan
- Sep 15, 2018
- Permalink
- chaouachiyoussef
- Jan 13, 2019
- Permalink
I found this quite entertaining. Blake Lively is amazing, as usual. Sexy, funny and suspenseful at all the right points.
I liked this and kinda got it in my head there would be a twist on the horizon. I was wrong. There were twists after twists after twist and it made for a messy end.
Up to that point though, it was a fun ride. I laughed several times and so badly wanted one of those drinks they were serving up. Pulling my shaker and martini glasses outta retirement.
Up to that point though, it was a fun ride. I laughed several times and so badly wanted one of those drinks they were serving up. Pulling my shaker and martini glasses outta retirement.
- joan-37304
- Apr 23, 2019
- Permalink
Super sassy dialogue, a clever plot and as long as you don't take it at all seriously, it's very entertaining throughout.
- nigelmacdonald-97173
- Nov 1, 2020
- Permalink
I went into this thinking that it was likely to be just a rip-off of Gone Girl, but willing to give it a shot.
This is a movie that has the most impact the first time that you see it because after you find out what the plot twists are, you just can't see it the same way again.
It's dark, satirically comedic, fun and dramatic all at once. It's not for the easily offended or the faint-of-heart, and it's decidedly not a chic flick.
There are some very obvious parallels between its plot and the plot of Gone Girl, but of the two flicks I felt much more satisfied with A Simple Favor.
As for everyone who claims that it is too far fetched, they clearly either didn't see or didn't understand the last 5 minutes of the movie when a poke is made at that exact anticipated reaction from some viewers - and pulled off quite wittily.
The writing/script also is applaudable especially when Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and each of the two children are having dialogue.
It's dark, satirically comedic, fun and dramatic all at once. It's not for the easily offended or the faint-of-heart, and it's decidedly not a chic flick.
There are some very obvious parallels between its plot and the plot of Gone Girl, but of the two flicks I felt much more satisfied with A Simple Favor.
As for everyone who claims that it is too far fetched, they clearly either didn't see or didn't understand the last 5 minutes of the movie when a poke is made at that exact anticipated reaction from some viewers - and pulled off quite wittily.
The writing/script also is applaudable especially when Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and each of the two children are having dialogue.
- rsnnborden
- Sep 5, 2019
- Permalink
Don't think about it. Just grab your bff and go. Get lost in the twist and turns. Admire the clothes and characters. Enjoy the music and martinis. It's not like anything that's come this way before. Go go go!
- Andreashairu
- Sep 17, 2018
- Permalink
- nogodnomasters
- Oct 13, 2018
- Permalink
Well worth your time and gives constant misdirection. Coming from a person that can predict an entire movie's plot (including twists) in the first 17 minutes of screen this movie was a challenge to confidently pin down in its path.
The writing was brilliant and the actors brought that vivid narrative to a satisfying reality. Each character is well used with no loose ends left to their purpose like your favorite Dickinson novel. The comedy was delivered sharply with a savage one liner or witty quip accompanying almost every role.
The conclusion isn't spoon fed mediocrity like many in the reviews are wanting but rather a triple turn around summersault nose dive crescendo. It's well worth the setting up the of the rest of the film even though it's not the strongest part, but that's credit to the expectation the rest of the movie sets.
I may be hyping this movie up but it's a fantastic watch especially if you're into mysteries. If you Dig stuff like gone girl But with a light hearted tone you'll love this.
The writing was brilliant and the actors brought that vivid narrative to a satisfying reality. Each character is well used with no loose ends left to their purpose like your favorite Dickinson novel. The comedy was delivered sharply with a savage one liner or witty quip accompanying almost every role.
The conclusion isn't spoon fed mediocrity like many in the reviews are wanting but rather a triple turn around summersault nose dive crescendo. It's well worth the setting up the of the rest of the film even though it's not the strongest part, but that's credit to the expectation the rest of the movie sets.
I may be hyping this movie up but it's a fantastic watch especially if you're into mysteries. If you Dig stuff like gone girl But with a light hearted tone you'll love this.
- sexbomombassett
- Jan 12, 2020
- Permalink
This is a interesting way of bringing to life a movie with so many darks themes on it and yet you can find it entertaining. I must say that I didn't like all the "secrets" theme but the director did an amazing job by making the sarcastic humor a key point here as the chemical on actors with their character, I kinda liked honestly the way Anna and Blake pulled off the mood in this movie. By the end of the movie you will have definitely a big "WTF did I just watch?" on your mind but it is what it is, a different point of view more on the humoristic/sarcastic part of a "mystery movie".
First things first, A Simple Favour is not really a mystery film, well not a good one at least. As much as the marketing would have you believe, those looking for the next Gone Girl or The Girl on The Train will need to continue their search. The story here is far-fetched, overcooked and unravels in such a haste that it's hard to treat much of it seriously. Director Paul Feig (best known for his comedy works such as Bridesmaids and Spy), seemingly aware of the story's inherent ridiculousness, keeps the film light and easily digestible, but the result is a weird tonal hybrid of a comedy-mystery that fails at being either. Think Game Night, but more obnoxious than funny.
Based on the novel by Darcey Bell, A Simple Favour follows Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a widowed, single mum who runs a mommy blog. Her goody two-shoes personality makes her pariah amongst the other parents. One day, on a playdate for their children, she befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a chic, elegant woman whose everything she is not. Before long they become best friends, and when Emily disappears, Stephanie steps out of her shell to solve the mystery.
Anna Kendrick stars in a role perfectly attuned to her goofy charms and Blake Lively convincingly embodies the enigmatic nature of her character in a crucial supporting role. Henry Golding, hot off Crazy Rich Asians, gets the rough end of the deal playing Emily's husband, a character who, while not entirely likeable, is cruelly used and manipulated by the two female protagonists throughout the film. It's disheartening to see that the film's message of female empowerment often comes as a result of emasculating its primary male character. In fact, the film's regressive approach to bolstering its two strong female leads does the film a great disservice.
The only consistency between all the characters is that none of them are particularly likeable. They each make questionable decisions, are gratingly self-centered and become increasingly obnoxious as the film progresses with its dubious twists. By the end, you'll be hard pressed to care about any of them. This is no more evident than in the film's tacked on "where are they now?' postscript that feels completely unnecessary and ill informed in assuming audiences care enough about the characters to know where they end up.
On the upside, Feig, who is more proficient in making fun films rather than serious ones, keeps the film feeling light and easy-going. He knowingly teases the audience with a stylish soundtrack filled with classy French music, and there are some funny scenes that incite light chuckles rather than any laugh out loud bursts of humour. These meager positives don't improve the stillborn narrative but at least they make it a little less painful to digest.
Ultimately, A Simple Favour is a strange blend of mystery and comedy that doesn't gel into a cohesive whole. As a piece of entertainment, it's entirely disposable. As a thriller, well, imagine Gone Girl as directed by Paul Feig. Or better yet, don't.
Based on the novel by Darcey Bell, A Simple Favour follows Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a widowed, single mum who runs a mommy blog. Her goody two-shoes personality makes her pariah amongst the other parents. One day, on a playdate for their children, she befriends Emily (Blake Lively), a chic, elegant woman whose everything she is not. Before long they become best friends, and when Emily disappears, Stephanie steps out of her shell to solve the mystery.
Anna Kendrick stars in a role perfectly attuned to her goofy charms and Blake Lively convincingly embodies the enigmatic nature of her character in a crucial supporting role. Henry Golding, hot off Crazy Rich Asians, gets the rough end of the deal playing Emily's husband, a character who, while not entirely likeable, is cruelly used and manipulated by the two female protagonists throughout the film. It's disheartening to see that the film's message of female empowerment often comes as a result of emasculating its primary male character. In fact, the film's regressive approach to bolstering its two strong female leads does the film a great disservice.
The only consistency between all the characters is that none of them are particularly likeable. They each make questionable decisions, are gratingly self-centered and become increasingly obnoxious as the film progresses with its dubious twists. By the end, you'll be hard pressed to care about any of them. This is no more evident than in the film's tacked on "where are they now?' postscript that feels completely unnecessary and ill informed in assuming audiences care enough about the characters to know where they end up.
On the upside, Feig, who is more proficient in making fun films rather than serious ones, keeps the film feeling light and easy-going. He knowingly teases the audience with a stylish soundtrack filled with classy French music, and there are some funny scenes that incite light chuckles rather than any laugh out loud bursts of humour. These meager positives don't improve the stillborn narrative but at least they make it a little less painful to digest.
Ultimately, A Simple Favour is a strange blend of mystery and comedy that doesn't gel into a cohesive whole. As a piece of entertainment, it's entirely disposable. As a thriller, well, imagine Gone Girl as directed by Paul Feig. Or better yet, don't.
Going into this movie I didn't really know what I was expecting but it was amazing. It's such a mysterious movie and you love and connect with all the main characters. It gives you a rush of thrill, it's the kind of movie you think you can predict but then something else crazy happens. Definitely a must see.
- madisondavis-26669
- Sep 24, 2018
- Permalink