Another Simple Favor review: Blake Lively's bonkers thriller is a must-watch for The White Lotus fans

Fans of The White Lotus might just have just found their next obsession. While it may seem almost sacrilegious to compare the HBO hit drama to anything else, Blake Lively's wild new thriller feels like a distant relative.

Dropping on Prime Video today (1st May), Another Simple Favor arrives seven years after its predecessor, A Simple Favor.

The original film centres around single mum Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), who strikes up a friendship with Emily Nelson (Lively), a chic woman from her son's school. As their bond grows, Emily asks Stephanie to collect her son from school, before disappearing from their small town.

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In her quest to find her vanished friend, Stephanie uncovers a murder mystery, which eventually results in Emily being imprisoned, reports .

Fast forward five years, she is released from jail by her rich new fiancé, and asks Stephanie to be her maid of honour. But there's more to the tale than the ex-prisoner initially lets on.

Given Lively's ongoing legal dispute with former co-star Justin Baldoni, viewers might have some doubts about watching the new film - but trust me, Another Simple Favor is a blast - seriously.

But how does it stack up against The White Lotus?

Rich satire

Unlike Mike White's award-winning series, Another Simple Favor doesn't delve into deep societal critique. However, it provides similar insights into the intricate lives of the wealthy, albeit less sharply.

The comedy kicks off with a quick trip to the Italian island of Capri, where Emily and her mafia boss fiancé Dante (Michele Morrone) are set to wed. We're introduced to his mother Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci), whose questionable parenting style pushes her son into an extravagant wedding with a woman he doesn't love. What's more, she's completely unaware of her son's real sexuality.

Portia is portrayed as being out of touch and more concerned about the family's reputation than her son's happiness. With three seasons already aired, dysfunctional parents have become a staple of The White Lotus.

In addition to poking fun at its affluent characters, the comedy also delivers the high-end visuals we've come to associate with The White Lotus - it was shot in Italy, after all.

Murder mystery

The White Lotus has become almost synonymous with murder mysteries, and Another Simple Favor puts its own twist on the genre.

After serving time in prison, Emily emerges surprisingly reformed. Fans will recall that she had quite a bit of blood on her hands in the first film.

However, the sequel portrays her as the victim of a sinister conspiracy.

It's worth noting that this film is highly self-aware and frequently veers into over-the-top soap opera territory. This is particularly evident when someone close to Emily is killed, and Stephanie becomes a prime suspect.

A plot twist later reveals the actual killer to be a previously unseen family member. We won't give away any more details here, but it's a wild plot twist that hits all the right notes.

I'll confess, the journey towards the big reveal is exhilarating, but it isn't complex. This might leave The White Lotus fanbase craving a 'real' mystery, but there are enough witty one-liners and stellar performances to keep them captivated in the journey.

Sibling 'love'

Siblings are a touchy subject in both The White Lotus and A Simple Favor. The HBO show has made headlines for its incestuous storylines, and the first Feig film also dabbled in the controversial theme.

Fans will recall that the initial thriller revealed Stephanie had a sexual relationship with her half-brother, before his tragic death.

The sequel follows suit, with yet another inappropriate sibling relationship. We won't delve into the details here, but there's no doubt it will spark debate.

Due to its light-hearted and at-times playful tone, Another Simple Favor will not satisfy avid crime thriller fans. However, the film's dark humour, satire and stunning setting is a perfect fit for The White Lotus viewers.

Another Simple Favor is streaming now on Prime Video.