A Simple Favour

Official Australian release date: 13/9/18. Viewed: 13/10/18.

Director: Paul Feig

Actors: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells

Genre: Mystery / Drama

Rating: M

     

‘A Simple Favour’ is a seemingly-simple story of an odd-couple of friends – straight-laced Stephanie (Kendrick) and brash Emily (Lively) – who become friends after their school-aged sons become friends. When Emily goes missing, Stephanie helps Emily’s husband Sean (Golding) though the tough time. This is when clues and odd things begin happening and the mystery starts to unfold.

It’s not really a traditional thriller/disappearance film, with the film following Stephanie, rather than detectives searching for Emily. The film’s not overly somber and has a few laughs – it is Feig after all. There’s a few twists, but nothing exceptionally original. It’s certainly no ‘Gone Girl’.

The film succeeds almost purely on the back of the charismatic performances of Kendrick & Lively. Both are easy and fun to watch, alone and together. Golding (from ‘Crazy Rich Asians’) is well used and the score throughout is interesting and fun. Nothing groundbreaking, but an enjoyable tale.

Overall: Decent murder-mystery.

Gav's Rating: 3 stars.