Sarah Rao

Review for Skeptics! NO SPOILERS. Tiptoeing spoilers=TS No matter how much you think you have it figured out, you never really do. Distinguishing who knows what, how much, and who's in on it with who is half the fun. Incredible acting, pacing, script, nuance, and atmosphere. I wish I could say it again. I want to point out one aspect more than the rest, but I can't. All of them shine in their own way, like apples and oranges, and yet somehow fit together perfectly. The acting WAS truly brilliant, though. I now have such an appreciation for the main cast. They did amazingly. They blew me away. Shining! Based on the namesake novel, it follows the high-class, charming, and seductive Emily (Blake Lively) who, before going missing, befriends a down-to-earth, sweet, and doting Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) through their sons who attend school together. Shaken by the loss Stephanie begins her own search to solve the mystery of her best friend's disappearance after realizing that the conclusions drawn from the investigation just don't add up. All the while, taking care of both her's and Emily's son, running a web series for moms, and being a supportive shoulder for Emily's grieving husband, Sean (Henry Golding). Crazy enough, "A Simple Favor" is Darcey Bell's first and only book so far! To top it all off, it was made into a major motion picture with some pretty big names just a year after being published. If that doesn't tell you something... TBH, I wasn't expecting any(!) of it (!!!) and I'm so glad I took the shot. not for a moment did I regret it. After seeing the trailer months ago, I thought it would be just another half-baked murder mystery loaded with tons of sex and cliched 'mystique' like the rest of them. But it wasn't. If anything, it was tasteful, balanced, and 'well played' ;). What regret I do have, though, is that I'll never be able to watch this for the first time EVER again, and that makes me so freaking sad. Oh well, I guess it's now my job to enlighten and enrich my unsuspecting fam and friends of this crazy wild ride of a movie. Twisted, thrilling, suspenseful, and so much freaking fun! They're bound to have a good time and the cast (having so many fan favorites) will definitely be an easy sell. Oh...and did I mention the hunk of a human that is Henry Golding?!! The charming personality, dazzling smile, academic swagger, puppy-dog naivete, and an oh-so-smooth English accent... I just can’t take it! *Exaggerated sigh*. If you don't know him by name you might recognize him from the blockbuster film from the same year "Crazy Rich Asians". I sure do, because that's when he stole a piece of my heart. Anna, ofc, already had her share. She stunned in this role. Sweet, kind, understated yet sharp, witty, and resourceful when she needed to be (TS). Seeing her character development is probably my favorite plotline of the movie. I'm also rewriting my every misconception of Blake -who is incredibly sexy btw- atm. Confident, cool, elegant, and so strong in acting and presence (TS). But don't let my swooning sway you into thinking that my biases have me biased. I came into this expecting very little, only watching because of the Rotten Tomato score, especially having never seen these actors in this genre before. So to finish off: This would be perfect for a lockdown stream-fest or family movie night. Or for those crazy mofo's like me with the messed up sleep schedule, a 4 am solo binge with a bag of Cheeto Puffs, some coke, and vodka, 'cus ngl that's fun too. But If you REALLY wanna get into it, I recommend whipping up some ‘dry martini's with a big twist’, while you're at it. Have fun my Smooches!

I loved this show! I finished it in a day and had to stop only to catch my breath when things turned for the worst. This show shows both the good and the ugly of Hollywood but also shows how even the ugly can be made right in the world by a change of heart. This series's backbone is hope and its true power. That being said, it isn't exactly gut-wrenching, dark, or thrilling in its overall vibe BUT that doesn't mean it isn't emotionally captivating, meaningful, and impactful. It is a feel-good show, yes, but it does not gloss over real issues and real situations that real people have or do go through. The show's primary plot focuses on issues that we still face today, such as homophobia, racism, sexism, sexual harassment, power distance, and manipulation. The story is intriguing, the acting is amazing (truly phenomenal and intuitive actors who can go off-script to say the perfect thing), and what I loved the most, is the story and character development. I highly recommend this show!