A Simple Favor - DVD

Based on Darcey Bell's novel of the same name, A Simple Favor darkly delights from beginning to end with mystery and thrills reminiscent of Hitchcock and film noir elements. With a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer and direction from Paul Feig, mostly known for his comedies, A Simple Favor will enthrall audiences. Stephanie Smothers is a widowed mother to her young son Miles and trying to build a career as a mom vlogger while maintaining a positive attitude. One day after her son's school lets out, Stephanie meets and befriends Emily Nelson, a successful PR director for stylist Dennis Nylon and mother of Miles' friend Nicky. Stephanie and Emily become close as they share cocktails and chats after their sons are picked up from school each day. Emily sardonically reveals that she and her husband Sean are facing financial struggles and problems in their marriage, as well as her unhappiness in life. In turn Stephanie reveals her struggles as a single mom when her husband and older half-brother died in the same car accident, and that she had an unhealthy relationship with her sibling. Everything changes when one day Emily asks Stephanie for a favor to watch Nicky while she handles a work crisis and Sean is away in London tending to his sick mother. Stephanie agrees but becomes alarmed when days go by without any contact from Emily and vice versa. While Stephanie and Sean work together to find Emily and solve her disappearance, unexpected twists and turns occur and secrets of Emily's shady past are revealed. The chain of events lead Stephanie to discover shocking truths about Emily and unravel dark mysteries that may have better been left hidden. With good cinematography and an excellent soundtrack and musical score, A Simple Favor provides plenty of dark humored enjoyment with twists and thrills. Veteran actresses Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick have excellent chemistry as new found friends Emily and Stephanie. In one of their best roles, Lively brings out Emily's mysterious beauty and charm while Kendrick brings annoying bubbly delight. Then rising star Henry Golding, who would work with Feig the following year on Last Christmas, was just off the success of Crazy Rich Asians and brings charm and vulnerability to Emily's husband Sean who desires to reclaim his once successful writing career. The rest of the supporting cast includes Jean Smart, Andrew Randalls, and a scene stealing Rupert Friend (playing Dennis Nylon) who provide excellent comic relief both darkly and lightly. The true highlights of A Simple Favor rest with costume designer Renee Ehrlich Kalfus and an excellent soundtrack that fits the overall themes. The soundtrack, which includes Brigitte Bardot's iconic Bonnie and Clyde, give an excellent feel and homage to French music and its place in cinema history (look out for the nod to 1955's Diabolique). Kalfus' costume designs are stylish and fit well with the characters, particularly Emily whose choices match her high profile PR career for a celebrated stylist. Check out A Simple Favor today and add it to your physical library in crystal clear Blu-Ray and a handful of special features. Be sure to grab a cocktail for the viewing!

Works great

the movie s entertaining and the plot does draw your attention and keeps it. The cast is surprisingly good. Anna Kendrick is a stand out.

The mystery elements are great, but this is definitely a comedy through and through. I laughed out loud several times.

Very good character study. Great acting! Keeps you pulled in for the entire movie. Loved the characters and the actors who played them. Great job!

Good movie based on a good book

After watching the sequel Another Simple Favor ( Regardless of the Ratings I found extremely funny), I decided to the Original on DVD which I saw streaming on Netflix both movies were fantastic loved them

I thought this was just a comedy when I bought it, but it's more than that. It's a mystery that gets more convoluted as we learn more about it. That's not to say that it's not a comedy - it has some delightful comic moments, most of them from Anna Kendrick's perfect timing and reactions. This movie starts in the middle, then works its way back, showing the first meeting between Anna Kendrick's stay-at-home mother and Blake Lively's working mother. Anna Kendrick's character is taken aback by this powerful woman who exudes confidence and assertiveness. Blake Lively's character seems at first amused, and then entertained, by this capable mother who is coping effortlessly with the responsibilities of child-rearing. Both find something to admire in the other, but that doesn't stop Blake Lively's character from taking advantage. Then she disappears... This is a well-made thriller / mystery, and thoroughly recommended.