Fans of The White Lotus, get ready for your next obsession. While it’s almost a crime to compare anything to the HBO hit drama, Blake Lively’s new thriller feels like a distant relative.
Released on Prime Video today (1st May), Another Simple Favor arrives seven years after its predecessor, A Simple Favor.
The original film centres around single mum Stephanie Smothers (played by Anna Kendrick), who strikes up a friendship with Emily Nelson (Lively), a stylish woman from her son’s school. As their bond grows, Emily asks Stephanie to pick her son up after school, before disappearing from their small town.
In her quest to find her missing friend, Stephanie uncovers a murder mystery, which eventually lands Emily behind bars, reports the Mirror US.
Fast forward five years, and she is released from prison by her wealthy new fiancé, and invites Stephanie to be her maid of honour. But there’s more to the story than the ex-convict initially lets on.
Given Lively’s ongoing legal battle with former co-star Justin Baldoni, viewers might be hesitant about tuning into the new film – but trust me, Another Simple Favor is a blast.
Unlike Mike White’s award-winning series, Another Simple Favor doesn’t delve into deep societal critique. However, it does offer similar commentary on the intricate lives of the wealthy, albeit less biting commentary.
Just moments into the comedy, we’re transported to the stunning island of Capri in Italy, where Emily and her mafia boss fiancé Dante (Michele Morrone) are set to say their vows. Here, we’re introduced to his mum Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci), whose questionable parenting style forces her son to stage a lavish wedding with a woman he doesn’t love.
Portia is portrayed as being out of touch and more focused on the family’s reputation than her son’s happiness. With three seasons already under its belt, The White Lotus has practically made bad parenting a key theme.
In addition to poking fun at its affluent characters, the comedy also delivers the high-end visuals we’ve come to associate with The White Lotus – it was shot in Italy, after all.
The White Lotus is almost synonymous with murder mystery, and Another Simple Favor puts its own twist on this genre.
After serving time in prison, Emily emerges surprisingly changed. Fans will recall that she had quite a bit of blood on her hands in the first film. However, the sequel portrays her as the target of a sinister conspiracy.
It’s worth noting that this film is highly self-aware and frequently strays into over-the-top soap opera territory.
I’ll confes, the build-up to the big reveal is exciting, but it isn’t intricate. This might leave The White Lotus fans craving a ‘real’ mystery, but there are plenty of witty one-liners and stellar performances to keep them engaged.
Siblings are a sensitive topic in both The White Lotus and A Simple Favor. The HBO series has made news for its incestuous plots, and the first Feig film also explored this controversial theme.