Another Simple Favor is a beautiful film without a doubt, capturing the gorgeous aesthetic of a remote island paradise. It leans into a fantastical angle the film understandably wants to apply to its narrative, and it's clear when the twists begin to unravel that it's the makings of a murder mystery encapsulated in an overzealous romantic novel. 

 

While the first film in no way blew me out of the water, upon rewatching in subtle anticipation of this new film, I found it to be a much more enjoyable romp. Still nothing to ride home about, but I found its numerous twists and turns to have merit.

 

Sequels that take a number of years can be well-received, just look at the massive success of something like Top Gun: Maverick. In the other vein though, look at the number of films that deliver after a long hiatus and turn in some of the worst efforts put to screen: Dumb and Dumber To & Zoolander 2. Well, Another Simple Favor doesn’t fall into either of those categories and instead is a film that struggles to find a reason to exist, while not insulting fans of the original. 

 

Anna Kendrick’s Stephanie and Blake Lively’s Emily manage to excel in their incredible chemistry once again, but there’s a clear distrust between the pair now. Obviously after being framed as an accomplice for murder and then being almost killed yourself by the woman inviting you to her wedding, doubts would certainly be raised. She doesn’t go entirely willingly however for those confused why she’d go on this trip with a murderer. 

 

A number of characters return for this second outing in limited capacities with the leads and Henry Golding’s Sean. Sean has clearly had a downhill trajectory since the end of the first feature and he’s pure entertainment on screen as he has a clear defiance against everything Emily is up to. Newcomers included Emily’s distant aunt Linda played by Alison Janney and Emily’s mafia-affiliated fiancé Dante played by Michele Morrone. Both add an extra layer to the story and person to be wary of as the story moves forward because in the world of A Simple Favor everyone’s a suspect. 

 

As is only natural as the film progresses for those that watched the first, something is clearly not right with the scenario that Emily has placed Stephanie in. Where the original twists and turns were a little outrageous they were clear enough to pass, in Another Simple Favor the twists have gotten ludicrous. After a fascinating start, the film has a downward trajectory and by the close the wishful thinking for yet another favor to be asked is just a tad annoying. It’s reminiscent of Glass Onion in many ways, full of bright flair but not enough substance to make for a worthy continuation beyond the performances at its core.