I didn't expect to crave Aperol Spritz and chaos, but here we are.
The full trailer for Another Simple Favor, Paul Feig's sequel to his 2018 glossy crime-comedy A Simple Favor, just dropped—and it's got everything: couture gowns, shady motives, and a sun-drenched Italian murder mystery that feels like The White Lotus collided with Knives Out at a Bvlgari resort.
Anna Kendrick's Stephanie Smothers and Blake Lively's eternally fabulous Emily Nelson reunite, this time not over martinis in Connecticut suburbia, but under the Mediterranean sun for Emily's ultra-luxurious wedding to an Italian businessman. The island of Capri plays host, but this isn't just a Eurotrip for influencers—it's a ticking time bomb in heels. When someone drops dead mid-vows, the trailer sets off a slow-motion parade of secrets, betrayals, and some absurdly well-dressed sleuthing.
And it works. Too well.
The tone is syrupy with satire but anchored in its two leads' electric chemistry. Kendrick's wide-eyed chaos and Lively's femme fatale energy are back in full swing—only now the stakes are higher, the outfits sharper, and the bodies dropping faster than a Wi-Fi signal in a coastal villa.
Déjà Vu with a View: Why This Sequel Might Actually Work
Let's be honest: sequels to cult hits are dangerous territory. (See also: Donnie Darko: S. Darko or Mean Girls 2—or better yet, don't.) But Another Simple Favor looks like it's leaning into the absurdity, not trying to out-clever the original. That's a smart pivot.
Director Paul Feig returns with Jessica Sharzer, screenwriter of the first film, now joined by Alita: Battle Angel's Laeta Kalogridis. That pairing alone suggests a more global flair—something Another Simple Favor clearly embraces with its new locale and international cast, including Michele Morrone (yes, 365 Days himself).
Also returning: Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, and Bashir Salahuddin. Allison Janney shows up too, which is never a bad sign unless you're the one being cross-examined.
Pattern Recognition: Is This the Beginning of a New “Glam Crime” Subgenre?
From The White Lotus to Saltburn, and even Hulu's Death and Other Details, we're seeing a renaissance of jet-set thrillers that contrast decadence with decay. Another Simple Favor taps into that same aesthetic—a designer murder mystery where everyone's too rich to be relatable and too petty to stay silent.
Back in 2018, the first film was a stealth hit, grossing over $97 million globally with its cocktail of noir, mommy-blogger satire, and Lively's unforgettable tuxedo looks. This time? The satire feels sharper. The stakes bloodier. And the fashion? More Assassination Vacation than PTA meeting.
It's hard not to see this as part of a broader trend—audiences are craving escapism that bites. Not just “eat the rich,” but maybe poison their champagne too.
Final Verdict: RSVP ‘Yes' to the Chaos
If the trailer's anything to go by, Another Simple Favor isn't just recycling old ingredients. It's reinventing the cocktail—stronger, darker, and with a bitter citrus twist.
The film hits Prime Video on May 1, 2025. And frankly, if this isn't on your must-watch list, check your pulse—or at least your alibi.
Would you attend a wedding if you knew someone was going to die? And more importantly—what would you wear? Drop your killer looks in the comments.
