Hi everyone!
Welcome back to Matinee Mondays! This week I decided to go back and catch a film that got so much love from #FilmTwitter. I mean, they had me at Paul Feig postmodern neo-noir film. For two other postmodern style films, check out “Ingrid Goes West” (Episode #034) and “Tully” (Episode #134). And of course, check out Henry Golding’s performance in “Crazy Rich Asians” (Episode #253). And if you have any suggestions that fit this very odd mold, let me know at onemoviepunch.com.
And now...
Today’s movie is “A Simple Favor” (2018), the postmodern neo-noir film directed by Paul Feig and written for the screen by Jessica Sharzer, based on the novel by Darcey Bell. The film follows mommy blogger Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), who is investigating the disappearance of her good friend Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), with the help of Emily’s husband Sean (Henry Golding). What starts as a well-intentioned investigation takes some extremely bizarre turns, revealing a lot more than expected, and culminating into a spectacular ending.
Spoilers ahead.
Paul Feig has had an incredible run of films since bridging from the television world. I remember laughing my ass off watching “Bridesmaids”. I enjoyed both “The Heat” and “Spy”, even if both were a little too slapstick for my tastes. And I really wished “Ghostbusters”, or as it appears to be known as now, “Ghostbusters: Answer the Call”, hadn’t been pre-judged by all the toxic masculinity that permeates some parts of fandom, because I loved it. When I first heard about this film, and not knowing much more, I figured I could wait until it hit streaming services, but #FilmTwitter was quick to point out the error of my ways, especially as a fan of film noir and postmodern stories, and now, their intersection. My wife and I attended a Thursday night showing, a week after the premiere, which still had about twenty people in the theater. And after seeing the film, I think it will be a slow burner at the box office, as long as theaters don’t give up hope.
“A Simple Favor” moves back and forth between the way we present suburbia and a hyperbolic suburbia based on how suburbia actually is. Stephanie is brought to life by Anna Kendrick, nailing both the mommy vlogger side, and the shocking complex and amoral life she has been trying to cover up. Emily’s character is given similar care by Blake Lively, nailing both the power mom side, and her mysterious past unfolding throughout the film. Even Sean has two sides, although we never get a straight answer out of anyone. The cast is excellent, including the awesome supporting cast of Emily’s past acquaintances, and the local school’s background parents who provide great comic relief and represent the viewer. It’s a bizarre mystery, and it is carried by the cast from start to finish.
The film isn’t just the cast, however. I found the film to be engaging from the get go, with any potential lull being prevented by another shocking discovery. “A Simple Favor” is an exercise in redirection, leveraging selective flashbacks at key moments to recast the previous stories. It’s the kind of film you get to view once without spoilers, then want to see again to find all the details you missed. I really loved the French mod pop tunes that helped tie the entire aesthetic together. I hope I can get a hold of a soundtrack or playlist for the music. I was entertained, I was shocked, and I learned a new word, at least for me, although it’s not polite to repeat in podcast company. If you’ve seen the film, you know what I’m talking about.
“A Simple Favor” (2018) is a postmodern suburban noir comedy, expertly translated to the screen, and delivered by a combination of excellent acting and stylish composition. Paul Feig’s latest film takes the best of his comedy work and injects it into a new genre for him to explore, on par with the themes of David Lynch’s look at the seedy underbelly of suburbia. Fans of Paul Feig will definitely appreciate the comedy, but they will also appreciate the outrageous and engaging story that accompanies the punchlines, and I would definitely recommend this film to all film noir and depraved suburbia genre fans.
Rotten Tomatoes: 84% (FRESH)
Metacritic: 67
One Movie Punch: 9.6/10
“A Simple Favor” (2018) is rated R and is currently playing in theaters.
