A movie starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively that's directed by Paul Feig sounds like a recipe for something light and fun at the movies. A Simple Favor is not that kind of movie. There doesn't appear to be an ounce of comedy in the new movie from the director of Bridesmaids. Instead, we get a trailer for a dark and suspense-filled story that may or may not include one of our lead characters being murdered. Check out the new trailer below.
A Simple Favor stars Anna Kendrick as a mommy blogger named Stephanie who becomes friends with Blake Lively's Emily. It's clear from the outset that there is something going on with Emily. She appears to be hiding things about herself from the beginning and doesn't even like getting her picture taken. Things get even stranger, however, when Emily vanishes. Stephenie goes looking for her friend, and while the rest is left nebulous in the trailer, it's clear that whatever she discovers is dark and unsettling. One scene here clearly implies that Lively's character may have been murdered, though it's far from clear that's what has happened.
If you're the sort that enjoys a good thriller that makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up, A Simple Favor may very well be that movie. Everything about this trailer feels creepy as hell. Blake Lively, while she only appears briefly here, is mysterious enough to make you want to know more about her, even though you're far from sure you'll like what you find.
Probably the most interesting thing about A Simple Favor is the significant role reversal we see in it. While both Anna Kendrick and director Paul Feig have worked on serious dramatic projects before, they're both much better know for light comedies. The trailer says the film is from the "darker side" of Paul Feig and that certainly appears to be the case for everybody involved. The actual character Kendrick plays may not be that far from others we've seen from her, but the situation she finds herself in certainly is.
As some have already pointed out, there certainly seems to be a Gone Girl vibe going on here, as the plot revolves around a missing woman and there clearly is something more than that going on. While the setup may feel similar, it would seem unlikely that the plot will follow an identical arc. However, A Simple Favor is based on a novel as well, so if you want all the answers, they're already out there.
For those of you who want to wait to follow the mystery on the big screen, A Simple Favor will arrive in theaters in Septemeber.
