Plot:
"The Favor" is a 1994 comedy film directed by Donald Petrie. The film follows Kathy (Harley Jane Kozak), a bored housewife who is married to Peter (Bill Pullman) and has a child. She becomes fascinated with her old high school classmate Emily (Elizabeth McGovern), who runs an art gallery and has a boyfriend named Elliott (Brad Pitt). Kathy convinces Emily to look up her old high school boyfriend, Tom (Ken Wahl), and to sleep with him, if possible, to find out if she's been missing anything in her life.
Performances:
The cast delivers mixed performances. Harley Jane Kozak and Elizabeth McGovern bring depth to their roles, particularly in their female best-friend relationship. Bill Pullman and Brad Pitt also deliver solid performances, although their characters are not as developed. Ken Wahl's performance as Tom is somewhat underwhelming, lacking the punch that the script initially intended.
Atmosphere and Visuals:
The film starts off with a smart and intriguing premise, with a good feel for female best-friend relationships and witty dialogue. However, the film takes a turn for the worse when the screenplay attempts to turn a human comedy into a screwball comedy. The Catfish Festival scene involving Tom is particularly awkward and fails to deliver the intended humor.
Conclusion:
"The Favor" starts off promisingly, with a clever premise and strong performances from the lead actresses. However, the film's attempt to transform into a farce involving comic arrivals and departures fails to work as comedy. The Catfish Festival scene and the overall awkwardness of the humor make the film a disappointment.
Rating: 5/10.
