What Is the Movie Simple Favor About

Basic Plot and Premise

The movie Simple Favor is a 2018 American black comedy thriller directed by Paul Feig and starring Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers, a mommy vlogger who investigates the sudden disappearance of her wealthy best friend Emily Nelson, played by Blake Lively. The story follows Stephanie as she uncovers secrets about Emily's double life after Emily vanishes following a request to watch her son.

The narrative unfolds through a mix of Stephanie's vlog-style narration and flashbacks, revealing layers of deception, hidden identities, and financial motives. The film explores the contrast between Stephanie's modest lifestyle and Emily's opulent world, driving the central mystery. You can find the official plot details on the IMDb page.

Key Characters and Cast

Main Characters

Anna Kendrick portrays Stephanie Smothers, a widowed mother who runs a popular vlog focused on crafts and recipes for children. Blake Lively plays Emily Nelson, a charismatic PR director with a mysterious past and a complicated marriage to Sean, played by Henry Golding. The dynamic between Stephanie and Emily forms the emotional core of the story.

Supporting Cast

Henry Golding plays Sean Nelson, Emily's husband and a school principal with his own secrets. The supporting cast includes Andrew Rannells as a detective and Linda Cardellini in a key role. The cast's performances help drive the film's twists and tonal shifts between humor and suspense. More cast details are available on the official Simple Favor page.

Themes, Production, and Reception

The film explores themes of friendship, class disparity, and the curated personas people present online. It is produced by Amazon Studios and distributed by Lionsgate, with a runtime of approximately 112 minutes. The movie received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the lead performances but noted a predictable second half.

Simple Favor grossed over $53 million worldwide against a production budget of around $20 million, making it a modest box office success. It ranked among the higher-grossing films in its genre for the year of its release. A comparison of key details is shown below.