When looking at the premise of Another Simple Favor (2025), it’s easy to see why someone might assume this is an unnecessary sequel that will have trouble justifying its existence throughout the entirety of its runtime. But Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, 2016’s Ghostbusters) is a filmmaker who doesn’t churn out sequels for just any rhyme or reason. There isn’t a single sequel in the director’s filmography, which makes this long-gestating follow-up to his 2018 movie, A Simple Favor, all the more intriguing.
The original suburban thriller was filled with plenty of twists and turns, and its ending somewhat left the door open for another installment. Now, director Paul Feig and screenwriters Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis take their eccentric cast to Capri, Italy, to double down on all the soap opera-like melodrama that fans loved so much from the original Another Simple Favor. The end result is a chaotic sequel that might indulge a bit too much in its labyrinth of a story, but is ultimately hard to look away from because of that audaciousness.
Another Simple Favor follows Stephanie Smothers’ (Anna Kendrick) new life as a true crime vlogger and author after the events of the first movie made her famous. However, Stephanie is dealing with the mental and emotional repercussions of following the trails of dark conspiracies and crimes, causing her career to come to a halt. It isn’t until her rival and formerly imprisoned enemy Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) returns with a suspicious invitation to her wedding to a powerful mob boss that Stephanie finds herself embedded in yet another conspiracy with an entirely new cast. So far, this Prime Video original film is showcasing plenty of potential.
Director Paul Feig impressively picks up where he left off seven years ago and makes it feel like audiences never left this noir-styled world that is as dramatic and exuberant as ever. The Italian backdrop is a refreshing change of pace from the original movie, and the colorful supporting cast of Bashir Salahuddin (Back in Action), Andrew Rannells (Girls), Alex Newell (Glee), and Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) all get to make fun appearances despite essentially being relegated to background roles. What made A Simple Favor so engrossing was the chemistry between Kendrick and Lively, and their game of cat-and-mouse was only really toward the latter half of that first film. This time, though, it’s front and center.
The fast-paced banter and quick-witted dialogue make for some of the most hilarious moments in the movie. Additionally, Stephanie’s newfound confidence and investigative nature make the plot of Another Simple Favor unfold much more like a mystery than the previous film. Blake Lively’s performance, on a similar note, will make audiences second guess her motivations after every scene, which helps with investment in where the story goes. There’s also the introduction of Emily’s extended family, played by Allison Janney (I, Tonya) and Elizabeth Perkins (Weeds), who remove some of the intrigue and mystery surrounding Emily, further reinforcing Paul Feig’s goal of making Another Simple Favor as irreverent and zany as possible.
Because Another Simple Favor is centered on Emily’s marriage to an Italian Mob Boss, the new supporting cast mainly comprises less interesting characters than the ones from the original film. Italian model/singer/fashion designer Michele Morrone plays Dante Versano, the hardened and enigmatic boss that Emily is seemingly in love with, and Italian actress Elena Sofia Ricci portrays his mother Portia. These two are the most developed out of the supporting characters and elevate the overtly dramatic material to help differentiate it from the level of quality you would see on daytime television with shows like Days of Our Lives.
The soap opera TV comparison isn’t necessarily a knock on Another Simple Favor, either. In fact, Paul Feig seems to want to interweave the genre’s tropes with that of classic mysteries and whodunits to create an absurdist piece. This mostly works to the intended effect, as Another Simple Favor usually has more working in its favor than against it. From over-the-top murders that are expertly edited to make the most out of the on-screen chaos to the extravagant (and quite surprisingly) breathtaking wardrobes and costume designs, Another Simple Favor gives plenty for viewers to enjoy. However, when looking at the overall narrative and some of its “shocking” reveals, the sequel begins to buckle under the weight of its own ludicrousness.
Despite the film’s two-hour runtime, Another Simple Favor immediately starts by kicking everything into high gear within the first 30 or so minutes. Stephanie and Emily’s odd relationship immediately grasps all attention, side characters are spitting some of the funniest vitriol at each other, and the plot desperately tries to keep up with the momentum of this electric ensemble. Unfortunately, the script begins to take one too many wild swings that don’t hit nearly as hard as what happened in the previous movie, resulting in a much weaker story that doesn’t live up to the potential of the cast.
Another Simple Favor also makes some especially odd and disconcerting narrative choices that are played for laughs in the most awkward way possible. These extremely bizarre decisions all build up to a disappointing conclusion that feels like a hollow resolution to the complex events that have just occurred. While Paul Feig may have taken to the stage before the film’s SXSW 2025 premiere and expressed his initial reluctance to make this (and any) sequel, Another Simple Favor doesn’t exactly disprove the concerns that he made clear to the people in attendance.
Instead, this new film from the director feels like overindulgence, which miraculously manages to stay somewhat entertaining even with the unnecessarily extravagant and dark turns it takes to try and shock its viewers. Still, there will surely be an audience for a comedic thriller of this kind. It openly encourages moviegoers to lose themselves in a ridiculous murder mystery that is like a mix of Glass Onion (2022) and your grandmother’s favorite telenovela. Bordering on parody, Another Simple Favor is an interesting watch, to say the least, with genuinely hilarious moments within its web of deceit, scandal, and murder.
Another Simple Favor premiered at the 2025 SXSW Film & TV Festival and hits Prime Video on May 1!
Release Date: May 1, 2025.
Directed by Paul Feig.
Written by Jessica Sharzer & Laeta Kalogridis.
Produced by Paul Feig & Laura Fischer.
Executive Producers: Paul Feig, Laura Fischer, & Paris Kassidokostas-Latsis.
Main Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Andrew Rannells, Bashir Salahuddin, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone, Elena Sofia Ricci, Alex Newell, Henry Golding, & Allison Janney.
Cinematographer: John Schwartzman.
Composer: Theodore Shapiro.
Production Company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Feigco Entertainment, Creative Wealth Media, Bron Studios, & Lionsgate.
Distributor: Amazon Prime MGM Studios.
Runtime: 120 minutes.
Rated R.
