Another one? the thing about doing favors is that typically at some point we’re even, and you can’t just go around requesting extra favors. So, i think it is quite presumptuous that director Paul Feig believes he has earned another favor from me. I’m not sure what he has done to even the playing field, and I’m starting to worry that our relationship is just one sided. i write about him, he never calls. he never writes. i review a film of his, and just crickets. Now he wants another favor? From me? You’re lucky I really liked the first one.
While this is actually a trilogy of books, there’s something deeply sad about how we got more out of this franchise before we did a crazy Rich Asians sequel. Still, the film is here, and Amazon, to show this a boost of confidence, has sent it straight to Prime Video. Do not go to theatres, and do not let Blake Lively go on a press tour. i wonder if things were in a different place for Lively if the film could have made a theatrical landing. thoughts?
Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Goulding, Andrew Rannells, and jean smart all return from the first film, which sees our weirdest frenemies in a situation where Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) is once again whisked into the tornado that is Emily (Blake Lively) and her absurd life. Stephanie has blossomed since the first film, blowing up as an influencer, turning into a novelist, and also helping to catch other criminals in her downtime. Emily should be in jail, but somehow she’s out, and getting married on the island of Capri. Stephanie has to go, or Emily will sue her for using her name and likeness without her permission.
thus, Stephanie winds up at what seems like a trap. instead of taking her son, or returning gay best friend (Andrew Rannells) for protection, she takes her agent (Alex Newell), which is great for the audience. Newell was the best cast addition, and has the greatest opportunity to break out of the film, except Paul Feig loses track of Newell and basically forgets to really include them in a substantial way beyond a few nice moments of quick wit. We do meet Emily’s new fiancée, his family, and Emily’s aunt (Allison Janney). There’s also an FBI agent trying to get Stephanie’s attention because there are a lot of mob types around, and Stephanie ends up getting framed for murder (which is not a spoiler, the movie starts with her saying this, and then flashes back).
As off the rails as the first film got, I thought it somehow made everything come together. this film does a version of the first film, certainly leans even more into the R-rating, and begs the question of why are we ultimately just retreading the same material? I found the killer reveal to be deeply disappointing, and there are several moments that telegraph where we’re headed. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the performances, but the script is a mess. if this was really the second book, I don’t know how we got to the third.
I enjoyed what was a nice reteam for the old gang, and Alex Newell deserved better in terms of screentime.but this isn’t great direction from Paul Feig. it feels like a streaming movie, and it even has the audio description narrator who does Matlock and Elzabeth. The written audio description was OK, but it feels somewhat focused on the bare necessities of this murder mystery, and doesn’t really challenge itself to shape the new location, or the outfits being worn by the cast at an extravagant and wealthy event unless it is relevant to the plot.
I love the first film. it is just shy of me taking it to a desert island, having seen it 3 or 4 times. but, this is a sequel like so many other unnecessary sequels where it is designed to just get the gang back together, and shouldn’t that be enough? Sometimes it works if it has been a long time. But, this is just a seven year gap. I didn’t really ned another favor this quickly. Nor will I likely ever again.
Barely Fresh: Final Grade: C+, Audio Description: B
