Blake Lively’s newest film is the perfect comeback from Justin Baldoni drama

‘Come on, baby girl.’

As soon as I heard Blake Lively’s character utter that classic term of endearment in Another Simple Favor, I knew I was in for a treat.

A Simple Favor was one of 2018’s most intoxicating movies, with Blake as the terrifyingly unhinged, yet sickeningly stylish Emily Nelson and Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers, her best friend, mortal enemy, and sort-of lover rolled into one.

This year, we’ve been treated to a second helping of Paul Feig’s comedy thriller, and not only do I believe it to be the perfect sequel totally worth the seven-year wait — it’s also, for me, the ideal springboard for a triumphant Blake Lively comeback.

The Gossip Girl actress, 37, has had a turbulent year thus far, to say the least. From becoming the subject of tittle-tattle in gossip forums to a ferocious legal battle with co-star Justin Baldoni, she’s been the woman of the hour for all the wrong reasons.

In December, Lively’s accusations against It Ends With Us director Baldoni, 41, became public as she claimed he exhibited ‘disturbing behaviour’ and ‘sexually harassed’ her on the set of the Colleen Hoover novel adaptation.

It’d be an understatement to say the fallout has been messy, with Baldoni maintaining his innocence and filing a $400million (£301m) lawsuit against Lively and her husband, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, accusing her of seeking to ‘destroy’ his career, while his lawyers also rebuked Lively’s allegations as ‘outrageous’.

Lively admitted to Seth Meyers this week that the last 12 months have been ‘intense’, but that she feels ‘fortunate’ to have had a platform to ‘share [her] experiences’ when not every woman can.

The internet has had a field day with Lively’s public image for far too long. She’s been villainised, over-scrutinised, and ostracised from the spotlight, meaning she had to choose her next job strategically to minimise blowback.

Enter Another Simple Favor, the movie to perhaps not only salvage Lively’s career from the rubble but also one that’s reminded us all what we love about her.

Reprising the role of arguably the hottest con artist to grace the silver screen in recent times was the smartest move Lively could have made when she, effectively, had nothing to lose.

Her haters felt vindicated when Baldoni accused her of embellishing falsehoods; her fans became riddled with doubt, and it seemed no A-list pal wanted to back her publicly. What better way to remedy all of that than by reviving a character you know everyone has a crush on?

Another Simple Favor picks up five years after the first film finished, which saw Emily land herself in prison for an attempted insurance scam and just a smidge of murder.

For her second outing, she’s rebuilding her life outside her cell walls, jetting off to Capri to marry a wealthy Italian mobster after somehow convincing ex-bestie and meek mommy Stephanie (Kendrick) to be her maid of honour.

The whole thing transpires to be a cover for Emily’s revenge, of course, and things get out of hand very quickly. There’s bloodshed, several far-fetched plot twists, and a few C-bombs thrown in for good measure — one thing’s for certain, no one could portray Emily Nelson like Lively.

Whether she’s making a bold entrance sporting an oversized suit, concocting dry martinis on a private plane, or flirting with Stephanie to the point where no one can really tell if she wants to kiss her or kill her, this character is utterly insatiable.

Lively slots back into the role with ease, allowing us all to forget her recent personal woes and appreciate the Simple Favor franchise for what it is: deliciously camp, disturbingly funny, and deeply homoerotic.

I truly believe this sequel landed in Lively’s lap at just the right time. The charming, seductive nature of Emily’s character suddenly has an additional layer, as the actress herself slithers back into public consciousness, also in an attempt to regain trust and rekindle her once indestructible friendships.

But, in stark contrast to Emily, Lively is neither manipulative nor calculated. She’s not cunning or cold.

One watch of a press interview for this movie will show you that she is merely a woman who has been through the wringer and wishes to carry on with her job because she, quite rightly, knows she’s good at it.

A Simple Favor is some of Lively’s most captivating work, so it’s been a real feast for the eyes and ears to have her revisit that much-loved, enigmatic role again, her chemistry with Kendrick still just as electrifying and her confidence still so sexy it’s almost unsettling.

Sure, it’s had mixed reviews — some think the ending was absurd, while others reckon the set up for a third movie was too obvious. However, in my opinion, it’s made just the right amount of splash to put Lively back on our radar.

It remains to be seen how things will play out in the courtroom next spring, or perhaps even earlier. But if Lively can channel the sass and charisma of Emily Nelson now in her own life, I reckon she’ll be just fine.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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