Latest news with #PaulFeig
The Guardian
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Full of delightful surprises': why Spy is my feelgood movie
It has a plot and a cast that seem cooked up during a hallucinatory fever dream. It shouldn't work, but it does – and so splendidly, too. In Paul Feig's comedy Spy, Melissa McCarthy plays Susan Cooper, a timid CIA desk agent who gets sent out into the field by her fearsome boss (Alison Janney) after the death of her slick Bond-like colleague, Bradley Fine (Jude Law, in a rare comedic turn). The cast is full of delightful surprises. Rose Bryne is a stiletto-clad Oxford-educated villainess with quips so brutal that she makes Regina George look like Barney. Peter Serafinowicz does a game turn as an – admittedly very pre-#MeToo – cringey Italian pervert figure named Aldo ('like the shoe store found in American malls'). And in the film's most magnificent twist, Jason Statham parodies the hard-as-nails action leads he's played over the years as a hard-edged buffoon with 'a habit of doing things that people say I can't do: walk through fire, water-ski blindfolded, take up piano at a late age'. That's not even to mention whatever it is that's going on between English comedian Miranda Hart, who stars as Susan's best friend and co-conspirator, and American rapper 50 Cent, who plays himself. I was first introduced to McCarthy's charms in another Feig feature, the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids, then hailed as a vital intervention in the major debate, considered legitimate and interesting at the time, about whether women were funny. Bridesmaids proved the affirmative. There were gross-out gags: who could forget Maya Rudolph's diarrhea-ridden bride-to-be, festooned in her custom designer dress, running through a busy street before giving up to let loose among the cars, the sacred commingling with the literally shitty profane. Then there were the nuances of girl-world jockeying: the self-cannibalising competition involved in organising a bachelorette party, or showing up to a fancy party in your best clothes, only to be asked by the insouciant rich girl whether you had just 'come from work'. Among this cast of funny women, McCarthy was a scene-stealer. As Megan, she first appeared as someone Hollywood would at best ignore or at worst despise: she was plus-sized, she was unglamorous, she dressed in clothes that – to borrow a joke from Spy – made her look like 'someone's homophobic aunt'. But McCarthy delivered a magnetic performance of a woman who was foul-mouthed, sexually confident and utterly self-possessed. Far from being a figure of pity, McCarthy made Megan a figure of admiration. Those comic gifts are given more space to roam in Spy. McCarthy's Susan Cooper is a meek middle-aged woman stuck in a fossilised routine, unappreciated at work and unseen in life. She watches her younger, thinner colleague get served faster at the bar, basking in the glow of the kind of male attention Susan's never had in her life. Jude Law gives her a hideous necklace with a grinning cartoon cupcake, which says: I like you, but I do not respect you. It is Susan's invisibility, and the fact that people will underestimate her at every turn, that grants her a chance to go on a mission. Just follow the target from a distance, her boss tells her. Inevitably, Susan breaks the rules. My love for spy films began in the 2000s with cartoon Totally Spies, which follows a trio of high school girls in California who spend their time shopping, partying and undertaking high-flying missions for an international organisation. I was drawn to the boundlessness of their lives, their glamorous escapades, their incredible gadgets and total competence. That quickly led me to McG's Charlie's Angels films (great fun, dodgy accents) then later the classics: the Hitchcocks, the Bonds, the Le Carré adaptations. The spy films I returned to most, though, were the comedies that embraced the high camp of the genre, understanding that these stories were as total a fantasy as those about being saved by a perfect prince. I was also drawn to the stories about women, because the appeal of the genre is, to me, indelibly tied to gender. In a world that reminds girls that danger may be lurking around every corner, and asks women to embrace a kind of harried, self-sacrificial domesticity, the female spies in these films were a perfect on-screen foil. Spy – it's in the name – is both a satire and homage. There's a high-powered gadget lab with cars that look like smooth, expensive spaceships, and a sardonic gadget master to match. There's a high-stakes poker game; a dangerous drop-off in a bumping club; a high-speed car chase through a European city. These tropes are both indulged and subverted to fun, frothy effect. And Spy is radical in other respects: it remains the only major Hollywood spy film that features a middle-aged woman as the lead. I know because every so often, in search of a feelgood film, I rewatch what can be inelegantly described as 'female-fronted spy comedies': Charlie's Angels 1 and 2, the recent reboot of Charlie's Angels, as well as the fun Mila Kunis-Kate McKinnon buddy comedy The Spy Who Dumped Me. Projects like these are few and far between; I guess Hollywood does not think there's enough of an audience for them. To that I say: join us. The delights are profound; the sense of freedom intoxicating; the costumes and the gadgets and the intrigue sexy and absurd and larger-than-life – and an exciting new adventure, that great siren song to the desk-bound, is always just around the corner. Spy is available on Hulu in the US and Disney+ and Netflix in the UK and Australia
Grazia USA
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Grazia USA
Sydney Sweeney's Upcoming Projects: What's Next for the Rising Star?
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Sydney Sweeney attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images) From her Emmy-nominated turn in Euphoria to producing her own breakout hits, Sydney Sweeney has firmly stepped into her power as one of Hollywood's most in-demand talents. 2025 is already shaping up to be a major year in her career, with a mix of completed films, highly anticipated roles, and buzzy projects in development. Here's a look at what's officially coming — and what's still cooking — for the multi-hyphenate star. Sydney Sweeney's Upcoming Projects: Echo Valley – June 2025 Sweeney stars opposite Julianne Moore in Echo Valley , a suspenseful mother-daughter thriller set on a rural Pennsylvania horse farm. Written by Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby and directed by Michael Pearce, the film follows Claire (Sweeney), who arrives at her mother's home covered in blood, triggering a gripping emotional reckoning. Echo Valley debuts in select theaters on June 6, 2025, followed by a global release on Apple TV+ June 13. The Housemaid – December 2025 Adapted from Freida McFadden's bestselling psychological thriller, The Housemaid casts Sweeney as Millie, a live-in employee who discovers chilling secrets inside her employer's mansion. Starring alongside Amanda Seyfried and directed by Paul Feig, the film is slated to premiere on December 25, 2025 — positioning it for potential awards attention. Scandalous! – In Development Sweeney is set to portray Old Hollywood screen siren Kim Novak in Scandalous! , a biopic that explores Novak's real-life romance with singer Sammy Davis Jr. The relationship, which took place in 1957 during the height of the Jim Crow era, sparked controversy and made headlines across America. The film will be directed by Oscar nominee Colman Domingo, with no official release date yet confirmed. Barbarella – In Development Sweeney is also set to lead a reboot of the 1968 sci-fi cult classic Barbarella , with Edgar Wright attached to direct. While no production or release dates have been announced, Sweeney recently confirmed the project is actively in development and described it as 'a long process — but it's gonna be worth the wait.' Euphoria Season 3 – Expected 2026 Fans of HBO's Euphoria will have to wait a bit longer to see Cassie Howard back on their screens. While production began in early 2025, the release of Season 3 has officially been pushed to 2026 due to scheduling delays and creative rewrites. Sweeney shared her excitement about returning to the character, calling Cassie 'one of the most special characters for me' in a People interview. Split Fiction – In Development Also on the horizon is Split Fiction , a film based on the action-adventure video game of the same name. Sweeney will both star in and executive produce the project, which follows two writers trapped in a simulated world battling a corporate villain. Directed by Jon M. Chu ( Wicked , Crazy Rich Asians ) and written by Deadpool scribes Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the film is still in early development with no confirmed release window. Conclusion: Sydney Sweeney's upcoming projects are the perfect snapshot of a star who isn't just versatile — she's strategic. With prestige dramas, edgy thrillers, and genre-defining reboots in the mix, her 2025 and beyond is stacked with promise. Whether she's in front of the camera or behind it, one thing is certain: Sydney Sweeney is just getting started. topics: Sydney Sweeney, Sydney Sweeney Movie, New Films, movies, Film + TV
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Another Simple Favor's Ending Leaves A Huge Mystery, And I'm Already Hoping For A Third Movie
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Warning: massive spoilers for Another Simple Favor are about to be liberally poured. It's starting to really feel like summer in some parts of the world. There's nothing like a cold drink in your hand, a blessed event to celebrate, and a trail of dead bodies potentially triggering a mob war. All this and more is offered in director Paul Feig's 2025 movie schedule, offering Another Simple Favor, and the end result is a cliffhanger so twisted, I need to see more. Naturally, this means we'll need to talk big time spoilers involving Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and a handful of other cast members involved in this Prime Video subscription booster. So if you're looking to learn more without spoiling the surprises, you can check out our Another Simple Favor review elsewhere. But for the rest of you fake true crime fiends out there, let's pour ourselves a martini, and get into what I think happened - and where it could lead! Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) has once again journeyed through hell at the hands of her own family. As it turns out, the woman also known as Hope McLanden had a secret triplet named Chastity (Lively), who, with their aunt Linda (Allison Janney), went on a murder spree during her destination wedding in Capri. When all is said and done, Chastity was responsible for killing ex-husband Sean (Henry Golding) and new beau Dante Versano (Michele Morrone); while Linda ices her sister/mother to triplets Margaret (Elizabeth Perkins). That last murder was in order to adjust to Charity going off script by disposing of Emily's angry ex-husband, as Dante was always the sole intended target. Amazon Prime Video: 30-day free trialIf you want to do yourself a simple favor, you can sign up for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime; which includes access to Prime Video. There, you'll easily be able to stream this Anna Kendrick/Blake Lively sequel, at your earliest convenience. However, if you want to grant yourself another simple favor, through acces to Amazon Originals like The Lord of the RIngs: The Rings of Power or The Boys. then you can stay signed up for $14.99 a month, or $139 upfront for an entire year! No family inspired schemes needed!View Deal With that fun new family member going to jail in the place of 'Emily,' Hope could be considered a free woman. That is, until this final ask from her mother-in-law, Portia Versano (Elena Sofia Ricci), transpired: I will keep your secret. … But my son is still dead because of you. However, I consider you to be part of the family now. And I expect a lot from family. So, because of this, I have a simple favor to ask of you. With that request, Portia passes a piece of paper to Hope, and we never see or hear what's on it. All that follows is the ladies clinking glasses, right before we cut to credits. That being said, I think Another Simple Favor ends with Portia Versano making Emily Nelson swear to kill her latest adversary, keeping this latest round of murder in the family. And to connect the dots, we have to walk through the wilderness of mirrors that preceded this finale. As it turns out, all three of the triplets born to Margaret McLanden (Elizabeth Perkins) survived! Hope (our current antihero), Faith (the sister killed in A Simple Favor's twisted ending), and Charity were all born happy and healthy. That third baby was apparently hidden by good old Auntie Linda from day one, thanks to some creative lying. With Linda telling Margaret that Charity died in childbirth, Another Simple Favor's big bad took an opportunity to raise a little bundle of joy of her own - all in the name of the con. Look, fineries like Blake Lively's pizza purse are expensive, and some people really like that sort of thing. Not Charity, though. Sheltered beyond belief, to the point where she has an unhealthy sexual obsession with her triplet, all that third McLanden wants is to be with Hope forever. Hence, the double homicide of the men in Emily's life, so she can keep her all to herself! And somehow…she survived this betrayal. Despite being set up as the woman we all love to hate, the person known to the world as Emily Nelson found herself doing something sweet in this seductive sequel. Admitted in her own confession to Stephanie, Hope/Emily shares that her marriage to Dante Versano was a cover for his relationship with a member of a rival family: Matteo Bartolo (Lorenzo de Moor). This 'small, beautiful thing in this fucked up world' was done to avoid a mob war, in exchange for an old friend helping Emily/Hope get out of prison. But even with all of that compromised by her sister fucker/stalker Charity, Another Simple Favor's head bitch in charge took pity. Knowing the horrific things that she went through, and seeing a way to tie up loose ends yet again, Hope doesn't kill Charity. She just has her arrested in her place, which some might think is an elegant solution to the problem. However, that does leave two dangling threads that Portia Versano is probably looking to tie up. And what better way than to ask Hope to finish the job with Charity, so as to cover up this whole incident, while getting revenge against Dante's killer? We've been talking a lot about what Another Simple Favor may have done for Hope McLanden's future. However, she's only the Moriarty to this potential franchise's Holmes, true-crime vlogger turned author Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick). So if we're really going to have a ballgame here, we need a reason to bring Stephanie into the picture, and there's a perfect three-quel worthy twist that's sitting in plain sight. If we're going to see A Simple Favor 3 take place, Stephanie is more than likely going to have to break bad. While Hope/Emily will naturally do the dirty work, Ms. Kendrick's astute crime solver will be needed to plot out this potential murder in such a way that both parties would get away with the results. Considering Blake Lively's recent post of support for Anna Kendrick, that looks like a good possibility. At least, that's if this supposed debunking of the alleged Lively/Kendrick feud holds up between now and when/if a potential sequel is pitched. It's not exactly the kind of story that allows its author to go to print unless some sort of unforeseen twist puts Stephanie so in the clear she can write without fear of incrimination. But maybe that's the best gift that Blake Lively's anti-hero could give her dear companion: a chance to live the adventure, rather than just document it. Did anyone else just hear the clink of cocktail glasses, or was that just me? Should you have answered 'yes,' you've probably just seen Another Simple Favor. But if you've somehow read this rundown without hitting 'Play,' that's alright. There's plenty of stylish murder and mayhem awaiting you on Prime Video, as that brand new sequel is now streaming for your pleasure.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I Waited Years For Another Simple Favor, But Come On, They Needed To Give Me A Better Explanation Than That
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Spoilers ahead for Another Simple Favor, look away if you haven't watched the mystery sequel! Sequels are a tricky thing, especially if folks loved the original. Rather than a sequel nobody asked for, Paul Feig's Another Simple Favor is something that fans like me have been waiting years to see. The follow-up mystery (which is streaming with an Amazon Prime subscription). But given the murderous way A Simple Favor ended, I needed a better reason why protagonists Stephanie and Emily ended up being besties again. The chemistry between Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively was a big reason why the first Simple Favor movie worked, but there was a lot of bad blood by the time its runtime was up. Stephanie slept with Emily's husband, and the latter attempted murder in response. But after a few quips and a martini, the two were somehow able to put that all behind them for Another Simple Favor. And I simply couldn't get over this turn of events while watching the sequel. Amazon Prime Video: 30-day free trialAnother Simple Favor is streaming exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. You can try a trial for 30-days, thereafter pay $14.99 a month, or save 22% by paying $139 upfront for the Deal Obviously I know why this had to happen logistically. We needed the movie's two leads to be on each other's side once the bodies started stacking up during Emily's wedding in Capri. But I really can't imagine how homicide and adultery would end up being water under the bridge, especially with Lively's character literally going to prison after the event of the first movie. I wrote CinemaBlend's A Simple Favor review back in 2018, and I've spent years telling anyone who would listen just how great Feig's sassy mystery film was. I was pleased that a sequel was finally shot and heading straight to our homes on Amazon, but found that Another Simple Favor was lacking some of that same charm. And I assume I'm not the only one who found Stephanie and Emily's friendship strange the second time around. Critical response to Another Simple Favor hasn't exactly been glowing. Of course, Kendrick and Lively could end up paired as these characters for yet another entry into this burgeoning franchise. The ending of Another Simple Favor set up future adventures for Emily, who was living in hiding in Italy. She received a mysterious assignment from Elena Sofia Ricci's Portia, so it seems like the story could go just about anywhere in a threequel. We'll just have to wait and see how many folks tune into Another Simple Favor, and if Amazon decides to pull the trigger on a third installment from Paul Feig's franchise. The release came amidst Blake Lively's legal issues with Justin Baldoni, so we'll have to see whether or not any publicity is actually good publicity. Another Simple Favor is streaming now on Amazon as part of the 2025 movie release list. Despite my complaints about the sequel, I'd still totally watch a third installment.
Daily Mail
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Blake Lively takes major swipe at Justin Baldoni and his lawyer in Another Simple Favor
Blake Lively took an apparent major swipe at It Ends With Us co-star Justin Baldoni and his lawyer in Another Simple Favor. Lively, 37, whose drama with Baldoni, 41, erupted last year after she accused him of sexual harassment in a bombshell lawsuit, shocked fans when her character Emily Nelson quipped about 'suing into oblivion' in a chaotic viral scene. Memorably, back in January, Baldoni's lawyer Bryan Freedman said he was going to sue Lively 'into oblivion' during an appearance on The Megyn Kelly Show. In the scene Nelson says to Anna Kendrick 's Stephanie Smothers: 'I'm going to have to sue you into oblivion for using my name and likeness without my express written consent.' In an analysis by TikToker JustPlainZack, he speculates that due to Lively's back being turned while the line is read and her mouth unable to be seen, that it was a voiceover added late in post-production. Original filming took place from March to May 2024. He added it was possibly 'something that they [Lively and director Paul Feig] thought was funny, a cute little dig at Baldoni.' Another scene sees Lively say: 'oh lighten up, im busting your balls' which echoed a famed line she texted to Baldoni calling herself a 'ballbuster.' Fans took to social media to comment, writing: 'Isn't she a victim,why is she acting like her allegations are a joke? 'embarassing. 'everytime she opens her mouth I dislike her more. 'that's her. she's playing herself. 'she's a menace' has contacted representatives for Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni and Paul Feig for comment. The new film finds Lively's character Emily planning a wedding in Capri, Italy, while out of prison on an appeal. In an analysis by TikToker JustPlainZack , he speculates that due to Lively's back being turned while the line is read, that it was a voiceover added in post-production. He added it was possibly 'something that they [Lively and director Paul Feig] thought was funny; Pictured April with Kendrick She turns to her former friend Stephanie (Kendrick) to be her maid of honor, but she is once again pulled into a plot involving deception and murder. Despite the less-than-stellar reaction to the movie Feig, suggested he would be up for a third entry in the series. Feig, 62, said, 'I definitely know where I want it to go,' though he would have to wait to 'see if everybody wants to do a third one.' 'It was too much fun — I would love to get back together with this group and these characters and send them on an even weirder, international adventure, if possible,' he said while speaking with People. Despite some of the criticisms of how far out the new film goes compared to the more modest and realistic original, Feig suggested the next entry to go even broader. 'I think we need to take them out into the world even more,' he said. The release of Lively's new films comes after she filed an 80-page civil rights complaint with the California Civil Rights Department against her It Ends With Us director and costar Justin Baldoni on December 20, before officially filing a federal lawsuit on December 31. In December, Lively sued Baldoni amid claims of sexual harassment during production of the motion picture. In her lawsuit, the Gossip Girl alumna accused Baldoni of sexually harassing her in multiple ways — including body shaming her — and orchestrating a smear campaign against her to damage her reputation. Baldoni and his reps have said in response to the lawsuit that Lively twisted the meaning of text messages and mislead the public about their interactions while making the motion picture. In her lawsuit, Lively named a number of Baldoni's collaborators, including his company Wayfarer Studios, the studio's CEO and financial backer, and PR personnel Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel. 'I hope that my legal action helps pull back the curtain on these sinister retaliatory tactics to harm people who speak up about misconduct and helps protect others who may be targeted,' Lively told The New York Times the day after she filed the complaint. Baldoni subsequently sued the newspaper for $250 million in a defamation claim over a December 21 story titled '"We Can Bury Anyone": Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.' The newspaper has denied the allegations. Baldoni on January 16 filed a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Reynolds and her publicist Leslie Sloane, alleging defamation and extortion. Baldoni told the court the trio had concocted 'false accusations of sexual harassment' against him. Since Lively's complaint was filed, Baldoni has faced a number of professional consequences, including a lawsuit from a former publicist; and being dropped by the agency WME, which also reps Lively and Reynolds. WME has denied claims that Lively and Reynolds leaned on them to release Baldoni from their client roster, according to Variety. Lawyers for both parties were in accordance with a plan to compound both federal cases filed into one moving forward. It Ends with Us, which also starred Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj, Brandon Sklenar and Kevin McKidd, arrived in theaters August 9 and was a hit with audiences. The film, adapted from the 2016 Colleen Hoover novel, earned $148 million in domestic box office, and $350 million globally, according to Box Office Mojo. Lively broke out with the 2005 movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants opposite Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel and America Ferrera. That led to her high-profile role on the TV show Gossip Girl, which she starred on from 2007-2012, playing lead character Serena van der Woodsen. She has also appeared in movies such as 2010's The Town, 2016's The Shallows, 2018's A Simple Favor and 2020's The Rhythm Section. Prior to It Ends with Us, Baldoni was best known for playing the role of Rafael Solano on the TV show Jane the Virgin from 2014–2019. He also has directed films including 2019's Five Feet Apart and 2020's Clouds, and penned the 2021 book Man Enough, which tackled misconceptions of contemporary masculinity.
