First Take: A Simple Favour- the director of Bridesmaids made a THRILLER?

SYNOPSIS:

A woman seeks to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her best friend.

Another month, another entry to the pantheon of Screen Unseen- and as usual, the gods at a certain cinema company gave us a film that got us talking, as this does not feel like a film directed by Paul Feig. It’s a film that simply works on so many levels, and like last month’s Unseen, I had a lot of the Great Men and Women™ of the blog (and of another cinema) with me, and they were all pleasantly surprised.

Working to a really good script from Jessica Sharzer (based on a book by Darcey Bell), Feig is able to blend the comedic stylings he is known for, and add darker, more psychological elements to the film; a mesh of styles which traditionally doesn’t work, but when you have a plot with more twists than the new ride that’s opened down the road in Blackpool, it just manages to get better and better. This isn’t to say it’s the perfect film, at 1 hour 57 minutes it could do with some cuts to make it flow better, but it’s one of Feig’s stronger films, and the perfect antidote to his 2016 reboot of Ghostbusters- the internet never forgets that one. It’s shot really nicely by John Schwartzman, and as ever, Theodore Shapiro manages to deliver a good score.

But where A Simple Favour really comes alive is the performances, and seriously, it feels so good to see Anna Kendrick doing some more serious roles following the end of the Pitch Perfect franchise- add some Blake Lively magic to the mix, and you have two really likable leads who can carry the film through the high points, and the really dark points that earn this film the 15 certificate. Supporting them is Henry Golding (who is having the success of his career following his work in Crazy Rich Asians), Andrew Rannells, and some other cast members who I can’t name due to spoilers- but they are all able to make these characters come to life.

THE VERDICT

The trailers simply don’t do this film justice. So here’s a good way of selling it: if you really enjoyed The Girl on the Train, and wanted more humour to compliment the more twisted plot elements, this is the ideal film. Paul Feig has just reinvigorated his filmmaking style, and boy am I excited to see where he goes next.

RATING: 4/5