“Another Simple Favor” follows Stephanie, as she agrees to travel to Italy to be the maid of honor for the devious and cunning Emily.

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively Bring the Laughs

Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively both bring their A-game once more in this sequel. Their chemistry is crystal clear, with banter and many callbacks. Kendrick generates a lot of the film’s comedy through her performance, while Lively is more straightforward.

Sharp Comedy Meets Mounting Tension

“Another Simple Favor” is very funny… to a degree. The comedic contrast between Stephanie and Emily is at the forefront. Stephanie’s quest for fame versus also managing to stay alive provides multiple laugh-inducing moments as well. The film continuously unleashes new layers of friction and tension, which keeps it engaging.

The film doesn’t take itself too seriously but still maintains a mysterious charm. The uncertainty in the early stages of the flick is what keeps it entertaining. As the movie moves along, this glamour begins to wear off.

Plot Twists Start to Overload the Story

Past the midway mark, “Another Simple Favor” really begins to stretch the realm of plausibility. By attempting to go for so many twists and turns, the film begins to feel outlandish. The last hour of the movie feels especially messy because of this.

“Another Simple Favor” is a fun sequel, but the film isn’t able to maintain its momentum for the full 121-minute runtime. As the movie begins unraveling its reveals, a slight mess unfolds as well.

It’s still an entertaining mess, but “Another Simple Favor” could’ve been so much more.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5