ANNA Kendrick Stars as Stephanie Smots in ‘Another simple favorite’. Photo: Amazon Mgm Studios.
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‘Another simple favorite’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Arriving globally on Prime video On May 1st, ‘Another Simple Favor‘Throws us back into the Knotty Dynamic of Mommy Vlogger-Turned-Crime Sleuth Stephanie Smots (Anna Kendrick) And mysterious, Murderous Fashion Plate Emily Nelson (Blake Lively,
This sequel to the 2018 Murder mystery brieft to screens by Director Paul feigLooks to amp up the mystery even further, throwing in new family members and some luxurious italian island locations.
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Will ‘Another Simple Favor’ Ask too much of you?
Blake lively stars as ’emile’ in ‘another simple favorite’. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC.
On Television, there’s a common trick of sitcoms and other shows usually anchored to one place to goose things up by taking the characters on holiday. ,The Brady Bunch‘Went to Hawaii. ,Friends‘Brough us “the one in barbados” and the usually hospital-bound’Scrubs‘Splashed out for a destination wedding in the Bahamas.
‘Another Simple favorite’ tries a similar trick, albeit in movie form (thought it is premiering on prime video), moving it Murder Mystery Machinations to the picture isle isle isle of Capri in Italy. But is it enough to elevate everything? That’s a more complicated question, one whose answer is bot yes and no.
Script and direction
Paul Feig Attends The Amazon Mgm Studios ‘Another Simple Favor’ New York Special Screening on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City. Photo: Prime Video.
The Sequel Boasts The Writing Talents of Jessica Sharzer (who adapted ‘A simple favorite‘From the novel by darky bell and has written the likes of’NERVE‘And episodes of’American Horror Story‘) With Laeta kalogridis – – More Known for the Dramatic ‘Shutter island‘And’Alita: Battle Angel‘ – Taking a pass.
Togeether, they have concocked something that feels as thought it have a similar energy to the original movie, while looking to heighten things to an even more absurd degree. Which is saying something, giving that the 2018 effort had more turns than a corkscrew.
‘A simple favorite’ effectively blended its mystery and comedy tones togethr, and while the follow-up attempts the same trick with some new counters, IT MON MON MANEGES IT, WHILE SOILE SOIN SOMES TOPIS far into ridiculousness.
(L to r) Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), Dante (Michele Morrone), Emily (Blake Lively), and Vicky (Alex Newell) in ‘Another simple favorite’. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC.
Still, there are the requisite laughs to be found here, and enough twists to keep you guessing. Once the new main mystery is Reveled, it does raather start to deflate, and there is some egregious sequel baiting towels the end.
Feig, Returning as Director, Proves He Can Adeptly Hop Between Genres, and Being Let Loose in the Beautiful Island of Capri certainly also allows Him to up the movie to the movie. He Also Capably Manages The New Cast Recruits While Keeping The Focus Squarely Where it should be: the winning, sometimes Overly Catty Dynamic Between Kendrick’s Stephanie and Lively.
Cast and performances
(L to r) Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) and Emily (Blake Lively) in ‘Another Simple Favor’. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC.
Lively might be the superstar here, but it’s Anna Kendrick Who Really Keeps The Movie Grounded and Funny. As stephanie, who is awkardly trying to enjoy her newfound fame following the events of the Original Film (And Capitalize on them by Writing a Book About The Case) of the film, wheether she’s effectively narrating the movie through her video channel or trading barbs with lively’s emily (or, er, hor, hope, as she should be called.)
As for lively, She’s back in full-on comic-informed femme fatale mode, as she struts around in outrageous clothing and gets passive -Gressive with Kendrick with KERACTER. She Once more makes an impact, whether She’s plotting her next move or proving more of a friend to stephanie than she might have suspended.
There’s also a healthy vein of vulnerability in boths, which makes the characters as related in the past, even as the screenwball murder mystery is dialed up into ever more freenzized levels of Complexity.
Around them, a collection of returning and new performs add extra layers to the story.
Henry Golding Stars as ‘Sean’ in ‘Another Simple Favor’. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC.
Henry golding is altar to let loose more as sean, emile’s ex-husband (who had a Dallanesse with stephanie in the original), and here is a drunken, sarcastic message, Sarcastic Mess, Throwing Endless Shade at his ex.
Of the newcomrs, the highlights are Alex NewellWho Steals Moments and Scenes as Stephanie’s Enthusiastic Assistant/Book Tour Manager Vicky and Elena Sofia Ricci As Portia Versano, The Powerful, Calculating Mother of Emily’s New Fiancé Dante (Michele Morrone), Neither of whom show up on Google Searches, but are cleverly very rich and powerful – – it won’t take you long to guess why.
Less present, but still entertaining are detective summervile (Bashir salahuddinReturning from the original) and fbi agent irene walker (Taylor ortega), who help drive the plot while not forgetting to brings the Laughs.
The really nutritious additions to the cost are Allison janney and Elizabeth perkinsWho Consume Whole Sections of Scenery Playing Emily’s Grasping Aunt and Drunken Mother.
Final Thoughts
(L to r) Emily (Blake Lively), Dante (Michele Morrone), Vicky (Alex Newell) and Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) in ‘Another simple favorite’. Credit: Lorenzo Sisti. Copyright: © 2025 Amazon Content Services LLC.
‘A Simple Favor’ Sometimes coasted on the power of its stars and some fun plot turns, and ‘Another simple favorite favorite’ Falls into a similar trap.
Still, the Idellic CountrySide Helps it feel different enough, and thought it can’t quite keep the Momentum up towards the end, watching it is not!
What’s the plot of ‘Another Simple Favor’?
Stephanie Smotson (Anna Kendrick) and Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) Reunite on the beautiful island of capri, italy, for emile’s extravagant wedding to a rich etelian businessman.
Along with the Glamorous Guests, Expect Murder and Betrayal to RSVP for a wedding with more twists and turns than the road from the Marina Grande to the Capri Town Square.
Who Stars in ‘Another Simple favorite’?
- Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smots
- Blake lively as emile nelson
- Henry golding as Sean Townsend
- Andrew rannels as darren
- Bashir Salahuddin as Detective Summerville
- Elizabeth Perkins as Margaret McLinden
- Michele Morrone as Dante Versano
- Elena Sofia Ricci as Portia Versano
- Alex Newell as Vicky
- Allison janney as aunt linda mclinden
- Joshua satine As miles smothers
- IAN Ho as nicholas “nicky” Townsend-NNELSON
- Kelly mxie as staction
- Taylor ortaga as agent irene walker
- Lorenzo de moor as matteo bartolo
- Aparna nancherla as sona
‘Another simple favorite’ premieres on Prime Video May 1st. Photo: Amazon.
