“Saltburn” is nothing if not deliciously campy, and anyone looking for that same vibe — and roughly the same number of on-screen cocktails — should absolutely watch “A Simple Favor.” The film, which is based on Darcey Bell’s novel of the same name, opens with mommy blogger Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) recording a video about her missing best friend Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) … at which point the narrative backtracks to the day that Stephanie and Emily’s sons bonded, leading to a friendship between the two. They couldn’t be more different, with Stephanie sporting patterned socks contrasted against Emily’s stiletto Christian Louboutin heels, but they grow close over several cocktail hours. Then Emily vanishes without a trace, and Stephanie tries to get to the bottom of her disappearance — and is shocked by what she finds.
Stephanie, much like Oliver Quick, ultimately infiltrates Emily’s life in her absence, even striking up a romance with Emily’s bereft husband Sean (Henry Golding) … and she does so with glee (as does Oliver). “A Simple Favor” definitely has the same heightened feel as “Saltburn,” and it features as many delectable looking drinks to boot — so pair the film with an ice-cold dry martini. (For bonus points, use Aviation Gin, the brand once owned by Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds, which is on display for most of the movie.)
