Paul Feig has mastered the art of making bat shit crazy women oh so cool. For the best part of the decade, the American director has tantalised with ridiculous storylines that operate within the wondrous intersection of the mundane real world, and the outlandishly crazy.
Following on from Bridesmaids and The Heat, Feig’s latest mystery, comedy, A Simple Favour, has escalated insanity to dizzying heights.
Grounded by two comedic and captivating performances by co-ladies Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, A Simple Favour is as plot twisting rabbit hole, draped in a glorious wardrobe.
In terms of stay-at-home mum stereotypes, Stephanie (Kendrick) is as tragic as they come. She runs a vlog offering tips to other mums, volunteers for just about every local cause possible, and never misses a school pick-up. Annoyingly perfect, Stephanie’s world is turned upside-down when she meets the lavish and mysterious Emily (Lively). A fellow school mum, Emily’s parenting style is a little more laissez-faire. She drinks martinis (hard ones at that) almost as frequently as she swears. Understandably, Stephanie becomes besotted with the fashion PR manager.
Just as soon as the two enter into a blossoming friendship of chalk and cheese, Emily disappears leaving not even a trace. Stephanie not only begins an infatuated quest to find Emily, but steps into the roles of mother to Emily’s young son, and wife to writer husband Sean (Henry Golding).
Despite possessing the page-turning characteristics of other notable thriller book to film adaptions, Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train, A Simple Favour steers clear of slow-burn scares. Instead Feig and writer Jessica Sharzer opt for unexpected one-liners to make the unbelievable plot line all the more enjoyable. Watch in disbelief as moments of darkness are broken with hilarious fly-by punchlines. At times one is left unsure if such moments of humour were intentional, given the film’s intense subject matter.
Taking the route of comedy allows for A Simple Favour’s leading ladies to flex their muscles as hyperbolic modern women. Stephanie is a primed and proper prude, however Kendrick plays the single mother with prowess and an underlying tone of mischief. But the film belongs to Lively. Dressed in clothing that would make the Sex & The City ladies blush, she is masterful as a queen bitch. Women will want to be her.
The storyline boils from plot twist to plot twist. Just as you think every crevice of plot has been explored, an interesting and bizarre character appears wielding a gun and a punch-line. After about the third twisted turn, all you can do is settle in for the ride.
