A Simple Favor

— As comedy-thrillers go, this one’s pretty good. Of course, given what’s playing at the local cineplex this time of year, my bar may be lower than usual. In a way, it’s the kind of film we used to see with some regularity. No political message, no religious undertones, no pivotal point testing the main character’s mettle, no physical or juvenile comedy, not even any whiz-bang special effects. Instead, it’s a light thriller where Stephanie, a gung-ho soccer mom type, and Emily, a glamorous, martini-drinking, big-city working mom, form something of a friendship. Emily asks Stephanie to pick up her son after school when she’s running late at work and promptly disappears. From then on, the plot thickens and it really is one plot twist after another, but it doesn’t get overly complicated, obviously not wanting to confuse the audience, only to keep them guessing. All three actors—Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding—are very good, and Paul Feig is admirably restrained, doing a great job of adding a bit of humor every now and then. If you go, you’ll also notice the titles are fun—an obvious throwback to lively film titles from fifty years ago!

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[2018. 117 min. Directed by Paul Feig. Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-simple-favor-2018