Another Simple Favor – Review

Well, I liked the first film quite a bit, it was a weird and quirky fun mystery, so why not go for more in its sequel! Well, find out the good, bad and otherwise in an unexpected streaming-only sequel.

Hi Moms! It’s Stephanie (Kendrick) again. Miss Smothers is back, this time running a cold case “A Pinch of Murder” videocast, while located in the romantic Italian island of Capri. She’s under house arrest… Hmm…

She wants to make things clear though, she did not kill Emily Nelson’s (Lively) husband. Flashback time as Stephanie is packing her son Miles (Satine) up for camp. So, life appears to have settled briefly after the “adventure” of the first film. Stephanie is in a funk, so her friend Darren (Rannells) pushes her back towards her books and videos.

As Stephanie hits a book reading event, her world is rocked as Detective Ben Summerville (Salahuddin) shows up to tell her some news. He is unable to before she is whisked away to the stage in the small bookstore. Her book about Emily Nelson and her twin sister Hope McLanden is on full display as Stephanie recites a chapter.

Then… A ghost of the past: Emily literally walks into the reading. Stephanie wonders… how are you here? Did you break out of prison?! Well, shit. Here comes a totally new plot. But is it any good?

Well, yes and no. Some of this film is solid, and brings back most of the still living characters from the first film. That was nice, though it was a bit of stretch at times to continue the plot of the first movie in a natural way. This film’s story overall did feel too convoluted and like it was trying too hard to exist on its own, all while leading to a semi-frustrating resolution in multiple ways. There are plenty of new characters introduced and it is an international affair, but it goes on a bit long and runs out of steam.

Some of the charms of the original appear to have worn off also, as many of the jokes for me fell flat or were over-used attempts at calling back something that did work in the first. I guess I just didn’t think the story or the comedy were as sharp all around. The cast did what they could to make this all work, and it’s not a total crapshoot, but it is a bit disappointing as a sequel. If they make a third I would be a bit more hesitant to watch it, but may give it a shot.