I’m a bit behind in getting reviews posted; it’s been a crazy last 3-4 weeks, but here are a couple mini reviews of two recent watches.

Another Simple Favor

Another Simple Favor is a stylish and entertaining return to a world of couture crime and suburban secrets, but it’s not nearly as smartly written, sharp, or thrilling as A Simple Favor (one of my favorite films from 2018), but thanks to its two leads, the sequel is still a cocktail worth sipping on a weekend afternoon.

When Paul Feig’s original A Simple Favor debuted , it was a stylish shock to the system—an unholy blend of mommy-blog satire, noir thriller, and fashion-forward camp, anchored by magnetic performances from Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick. Paul Feig returns to the world of pastel lies and killer secrets in a much-anticipated sequel aiming to rekindle that same twisted charm, but the sequel is plagued by poorly written dialogue and a plot that is a little too far fetched. While Another Simple Favor delivers its share of glitz, twists, and giggles, it doesn’t quite capture the original’s lightning in a martini shaker.

Stylistically, this movie keeps much of what worked the first time around: the runway-inspired couture costumes, the popping soundtrack, and family drama, but it feels more like a knockoff this time around than fresh and original. Blake Lively continues to own every scene as the enigmatic Emily, oozing charisma and menace in equal measure. Kendrick, once again, brings a nervy charm to Stephanie, whose sunny exterior masks a deep well of insecurities and ambition. But the key difference between the two films lies in tone and tension. Where the first film felt like a genre-bending noir-spired surprise—veering from domestic drama to murder mystery to black comedy—the sequel often feels underwhelming in comparison. Narratively, it misses the mark set by the original. The plot doubles down on absurdity and globe-trotting intrigue, but it occasionally sacrifices emotional stakes for spectacle.

Despite this, Feig’s direction remains confident and it is still an entertaining movie. Fans of the original will likely enjoy the ride, even if the destination feels slightly less fresh.

Fight or Flight (2025)

Fight or Flight is ridiculously fun from takeoff to landing. The high flying action/comedy is a no holds barred, wildly entertaining ride that is absolutely bonkers. It’s the kind of movie that, on one hand, looks like a complete train wreck, but then you realize how smart it actually is. Equal parts absurd, exhilarating, and unapologetically over-the-top, it charges headfirst into chaos and never looks back. It’s one adrenaline pumping genre movie that even has a little hart.

From its opening scene, the film gleefully abandons logic in favor of sheer, unfiltered spectacle. Josh Hartnett is in his element here, and is having a complete blast along the way. But that’s part of the charm. The film doesn’t care if it makes sense; it just wants you to have a good time at the cinema. And you will. Fueled by a knowing wink and turbo-charged editing, the movie manages to turn cinematic chaos into something wildly entertaining. It’s bonkers. It’s brash. But oh so fun!

The script, while clunky in places, knows what it is. Most of the characters are caricatures, but the performances bring charisma where nuance is lacking. Leads Hartnett and Charithra Chandran ground the film in (some modicum of) naturalism, which is important to note because of how absurd nearly everyone and everything else is in the movie. Their performances and characters ground the chaos sufficiently enough, and provide moments of emotional reset.

For those willing to look a little deeper into the movie, there is a rather scathing thread of commentary on the exploitive nature of the origin of some of the items we use everyday, not thinking of the labor it takes to mass produce. While this movie could have very well limited itself to a bonkers action/comedy, it includes some thoughtful content.

Ryan is the general manager for 90.7 WKGC Public Media in Panama City and host of the public radio show ReelTalk about all things cinema. Additionally, he is the author of the upcoming film studies book titled Monsters, Madness, and Mayhem: Why People Love Horror. After teaching film studies for over eight years at the University of Tampa, he transitioned from the classroom to public media. He is a member of the Critics Association of Central Florida and Indie Film Critics of America. If you like this article, check out the others and FOLLOW this blog! Follow him on Twitter: RLTerry1 and LetterBoxd: RLTerry