Another Simple Favor review: Is it a delicious sequel or just too much?

Sequels are tricky. They often try to do too much or cling too hard to the original's charm. Another Simple Favor walks a very fine line between both. After a long Thursday spent glancing at the clock, desperate to get home and hit play, I can now confirm: the wait was worth it.

Was it a “good” movie? That depends on what you’re asking. Is it technically tight, narratively grounded, or emotionally layered? Maybe not. But is it a deliriously fun, unhinged, campy, sapphic rollercoaster of chaos with wild twists and delicious performances? Absolutely. It's a movie that knows it’s ridiculous and leans into it, Martini glass in hand.

Another Simple Favor doesn't pretend to be neat or polished. It embraces the chaos and lets its leading ladies dance in it. There's murder, twincest (or tripletcest?), truth serum confessions, unhinged charity events, and a whole lot of queercoded energy.

And somehow, amidst all this, it still manages to say something real about love, trust, and identity—even if it’s hiding under layers of absurdity and couture.

Let’s break it down.

The camp is strong with Another Simple Favor

There is no subtlety here. From the very first scene, Another Simple Favor makes it clear it’s going to be loud, dramatic, and entirely extra. It doesn’t just continue the camp from the first movie—it throws glitter at it, tosses it in a yacht, and sets it on fire (with style, of course).

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The Charity twist? Absolutely over the top. The murders? Ridiculous. The triplet reveal? Wild and deeply uncomfortable. But somehow, all of it works in a bizarre soap opera kind of way. It’s like the writers took a shot every time they thought, “What if we made it weirder?”

There’s something strangely liberating about a movie that doesn’t try to tone itself down. Another Simple Favor is messy on purpose. It's meant to make you gasp, laugh, and say, “Wait, what?” every five minutes—and it succeeds.

Emily and Stephanie: Friends, Lovers, or Both?

This movie is gay. There’s no other way to put it. Whether it’s canon or not, the Emily-Stephanie dynamic is built on romantic tension, intense emotional attachment, and just enough longing looks to make you yell at your screen.

They say “baby” a lot. Stephanie is raising Emily’s kid. Emily saves Stephanie when she doesn’t have to. They work as a team. There’s no bitter rivalry, no betrayal-for-shock-value twist. They’re partners in crime and something more.

Emily isn’t just manipulating Stephanie anymore—she cares. You can see it. And Stephanie? She’s not just naive anymore. She sees Emily clearly, and she chooses to stand by her anyway.

Sure, they don’t end up together, technically. But this isn’t a story about neat endings. It’s about love that defies labels and timelines. The connection is real. Another Simple Favor shows that, even if it doesn’t spell it out.

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Anna Kendrick carries the chaos

Anna Kendrick has always been good, but this might be one of her best performances. She nails every beat—from awkward podcast host to confident chaos agent. The truth serum scene? Perfection. Her comedic timing? On point.

Kendrick makes Stephanie's journey believable even when the plot isn’t. You watch her evolve from a quirky suburban mom to someone who holds her own beside Emily—and it works. You buy into it because Kendrick sells it with every micro-expression and every nervous giggle.

Her chemistry with Blake Lively continues to be electric. The difference in how Stephanie interacts with Emily versus literally anyone else is so stark it’s almost spooky. You can tell when it’s not Emily, just from the energy. That’s how in sync Kendrick is with her role.

Blake Lively’s Emily: Still stylish, still scary

Blake Lively’s Emily is a hurricane in heels. Sharp, chaotic, and completely unpredictable. Her outfits might not top the first movie (and the film knows it), but her presence is just as commanding. She’s like a glamorized villain who accidentally stumbled into a queer love story and decided to stay.

What makes her so fascinating is the layers. Under the cold exterior and biting wit, there’s vulnerability. There’s fear. She loves Stephanie—whether she admits it or not—and it terrifies her. You can see that fear in the way she flinches from emotional moments, but still shows up anyway.

Also, her gag reflex every time Sean is mentioned? Iconic. And telling.

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Supporting cast and the little details

Allison Janney was such a win. Her performance was both absurd and grounded, and she delivered every line with the energy of a wine aunt who’s seen some things. Elena Sofia Ricci, as Dante’s mother, was another surprise standout—equal parts dramatic and hilarious.

Let’s talk about Michele Morrone. His addition to the cast was… interesting. He’s suave, mysterious, and has that classic European thriller vibe. While his character doesn’t get a ton of development, his presence adds another flavor to the mix.

He plays the brooding love interest—or at least, what the film wants us to think is a love interest. But like with every man in Emily’s orbit, there’s an emotional wall.

And let’s not forget the details. The contrast between scenes with the real Emily and her stand-in? You can feel it. That slight off-ness? Chef’s kiss. The kind of thing that’s never explained but always felt.

Also, yes, Blake Lively’s hair still somehow looks like she’s been caught in a wind tunnel… despite owning a haircare line. We noticed.

Is there room for a third?

Absolutely. In fact, the ending almost demands one. There’s unfinished business. Emily’s out there. Stephanie’s still solving crimes. The bond between them hasn’t faded—it’s just simmering, waiting to boil over again.

If a third movie happens, give us a story where Stephanie has to track Emily down. Make it sapphic, suspenseful, and a little sad. Let it explore the question: Can love survive all this madness?

Because at this point, Stephanie and Emily are soulmates. Twisted, chaotic soulmates. And we’re not done watching them.

Final thoughts

Another Simple Favor is not perfect. But perfection was never the goal. It's fun, bold, and absurd in all the right ways. It pushes boundaries, plays with genre, and doesn’t care if you’re confused—it just wants you to enjoy the ride.

The movie’s heart lies in its central relationship. Whether you see it as romantic, platonic, or somewhere in between, there’s no denying the emotional weight of Emily and Stephanie’s bond. It's the kind of connection that makes you root for them, even when they’re doing terrible things.

Another Simple Favor may divide opinions, but it also gives us something rare: a movie that doesn’t hold back. And honestly? That’s more than enough.