A SIMPLE FAVOR | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"A SIMPLE FAVOR"
(2018) (Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Thriller/Black Comedy: A woman tries to figure out the truth behind her new best friend's unexpected disappearance.

PLOT:

Stephanie Smothers (ANNA KENDRICK) is a single mom to young Miles (JOSHUA SATINE) and is somewhat mocked by other parents for her energy and participation in school functions and for her video blog about all things homemaking. While they couldn't be more different, she finds a friend of sorts in the alluring Emily Nelson (BLAKE LIVELY), a stylishly attractive director of PR for a fashion designer, wife to one-time author turned English professor Sean Townsend (HENRY GOLDING) and mom to young Nicky (IAN HO).

The two women end up hitting it off over drinks and become instant friends, although Stephanie probably believes in that description more than Emily who bluntly speaks her mind. That includes telling the homemaker that she doesn't want a friend like her, but nonetheless has no problem asking Stephanie to watch Nicky when she's busy. Stephanie is happy to help, including when Emily says she's headed to Miami for work, but then becomes concerned when Emily seemingly vanishes and doesn't answer any attempts at contacting her, all while Sean's been in another country caring for his mom.

As the police begin to investigate and learn that Sean took out a $4 million insurance policy on his wife right before her disappearance, Stephanie becomes increasingly suspicious about what's occurred and starts looking for clues to explain what's really happening.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Teens might be interested, especially if they're fans of anyone in the cast or the director (who previously helmed "Bridesmaids," "Spy" and the reboot of "Ghostbusters").

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For sexual content and language throughout, some graphic nude images, drug use and violence.

Please watch the following short interview about why I started Screen It and continue to review movies for parents:

To continue reading the review and all of the highly detailed, scene-by-scene listings of the sex, nudity, profanity, violence and more (15 categories):

or

Just $7.95/month or $47/year

I have subscribed to ScreenIt for more than a decade. I check in every week to take advantage of their amazing services. Not only does their site provide a glimpse of exactly what content a movie offers, I've found the “Our Take” reviews and ratings for each movie to be right on the money every single time. I've referred dozens of friends to this service because my #1 resource for deciding whether or not to show a movie to my kids, or to see one myself, is ScreenIt.com!

Josh Nisbet
Director, State of CA Public Sector

I signed up to get Screen It weekly reviews a long time ago, when my kids were young and I wanted to know more about movies before we went to a theater or rented. Now one child is in law school, other in undergraduate, and I still read the weekly Screen Its! It helps me know what my husband and I want to see or rent, and what to have waiting at home that we all will enjoy when my "kids" come home. I depend on Screen It reviews. They usually just present the facts and let me decide if the movie is appropriate or of interest for my family and me. Thank you for providing that service, Screen It!

Patti Petree
Winston Salem, NC

I have 4 children who are now in college. I signed up for Screen It when my children were pre-teenagers. Often my children would ask to see a movie with a friend and I wished I could preview the movie prior to giving permission. A friend told me about ScreenIt.com and I found it to be the next best thing to previewing a movie. The amount of violence, sexual content, or language were always concerns for me and my husband as we raised innocent kids with morals. We constantly fought the peer pressure our kids received to see films that in our opinion were questionable. With the evidence we received at Screen It, our kids couldn't even fight us when we felt a film may have been inappropriate for them to watch. Thank you, Screen It. Continue to make this helpful service available to everyone, but especially the young parents.

Christine Doherty
Machesney Park, IL

Screenit.com is an amazing resource for parents, educators, church groups or anyone who wants to make an informed decision whether a movie is suitable for their viewing. The reviews and content descriptions are so detailed I am mystified how the reviewers can put them together.

Scott Heathe
Vancouver, BC

I love screen It! I don't know what I would do without it. It is well worth the membership. Before we take our son to the movies we check it out on screen it first. Thank you SO much for making it. Keep up the good work & keep 'em coming!!!

Patrina Streety
Moreno Valley California

Other new and recent reviews include:

Privacy Statement and Terms of Use and Disclaimer
By entering this site you acknowledge to having read and agreed to the above conditions.