The Favor Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

🍿 The Favor: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Curious Wife’s Request

Kathy Whiting, a happily married mother, finds herself increasingly curious about her high school sweetheart, Tom Andrews, as her 15-year reunion approaches. Despite her stable life with her husband Peter, she is plagued by ‘what if’ questions and fantasies about the past. Unable to act on her curiosity herself, Kathy enlists her best friend, Emily Embrey, to track down Tom while Emily is on a business trip to Denver. Kathy asks Emily to meet Tom, assess his current life, and even go as far as sleeping with him to report back on the experience.

The Friend’s Confession and Growing Complications

Emily reluctantly agrees to Kathy’s unusual request. Upon her return, Emily initially tells Kathy that she did meet Tom and that the experience was ‘awesome.’ This confession sends Kathy into an emotional tailspin, straining their friendship and causing her to re-evaluate her own marriage. Adding to the complexity, Emily is in a relationship with a younger artist named Elliott Fowler. Soon after her trip to Denver, Emily discovers she is pregnant, but she is unsure if the father is Tom from the one-night stand or her boyfriend, Elliott.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Kathy Whiting (Harley Jane Kozak): A married woman who, fantasizing about a high school sweetheart, asks her best friend for an unusual favor that complicates everyone’s lives.
• Emily Embrey (Elizabeth McGovern): Kathy’s best friend who agrees to fulfill the ‘favor’ by checking out the old boyfriend, only to become pregnant and uncertain of the father.
• Peter Whiting (Bill Pullman): Kathy’s supportive but ultimately confused husband who becomes suspicious as his wife’s actions and friend’s entanglement cause chaos.
• Elliott Fowler (Brad Pitt): Emily’s younger artist boyfriend whose relationship is tested by the secrets, infidelity, and potential pregnancy resulting from the favor.
• Tom Andrews (Ken Wahl): Kathy’s high school sweetheart, whose seemingly attractive life becomes the catalyst for the central conflict when Emily meets him.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Kathy Whiting: “I was kind of happy, in a miserable kind of way.” – Reflecting on her seemingly content but perhaps unfulfilled life and marriage before pursuing the fantasy.
• Peter Whiting: “Is that worse than being miserable in a happy kind of way?” – Responding to Kathy’s comment, highlighting the complexity and subjective nature of happiness in relationships.
• Emily Embrey: “Remember when we said we’d stop when it wasn’t fun anymore? Well, it’s not fun anymore.” – Expressing the strain the situation has put on her friendship with Kathy, indicating the emotional cost is too high.
• None: “I like sleeping, it makes the years go by faster.” – A line expressing weariness or a desire for difficult times to pass quickly.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $13,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $3,134,381
• Worldwide Gross: $3,134,381

💥 The Favor Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I stumbled upon this movie, and wow, it’s a total product of its time, but kind of fun? The plot is absolutely bonkers – who asks their friend to do *that*? But I found myself strangely entertained. Holly Jane Kozak is really funny in her neurotic way, and Elizabeth McGovern has this cool, independent vibe that I liked. And seeing young Brad Pitt as the sweet, slightly pathetic artist was a trip! Bill Pullman playing the harmonica husband was also surprisingly endearing. Sure, some parts are cringe-worthy, and the plot twists get pretty wild, especially with the pregnancy mystery. But honestly, it was a light, silly escape that made me chuckle. If you’re looking for deep meaning, skip it, but for a nostalgic, slightly weird rom-com, it works.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of 90s romantic comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in films about relationship dynamics and fidelity”
  • “Those who enjoy movies featuring this specific cast (Harley Jane Kozak, Elizabeth McGovern, Bill Pullman, early Brad Pitt)”
  • “People looking for a lighthearted, though sometimes complicated, relationship story”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Mature themes (infidelity, pregnancy)”
  • “Some sexual humor and references”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes (Aggregate Sentiment): “While the premise is certainly unique, the execution of The Favor feels inconsistent. The cast, featuring early performances from recognizable stars, tries their best, but the script struggles to juggle its many threads. It lands somewhere between amusing and awkward, perhaps better suited for a lazy cable afternoon than a must-see event.
• Indie Film Watcher: “This 90s romantic comedy has moments of charm, particularly in the comedic fantasy sequences and the chemistry between the leads. However, it often leans too heavily on sitcom-level misunderstandings and a somewhat unlikable central premise. It’s a fluffy, unpretentious watch, but lacks the depth or consistent humor to be truly memorable.

Audience Reactions

Many viewers enjoyed seeing the now-famous cast in earlier roles.: The film is often described as a ‘guilty pleasure’ or a ‘fun, light watch’ for those who enjoy cheesy 90s romantic comedies and appreciate the ensemble cast.

The fantasy sequences and specific comedic moments landed well with some viewers.: Audiences found moments genuinely funny, citing specific scenes like the dream sequences or the quirky interactions between characters as highlights.

Some viewers appreciated the film’s attempt at exploring female desire and friendship dynamics.: Despite the outlandish plot, the core themes of questioning life choices and the complexities of female friendships resonated with a segment of the audience.

Overall Consensus: A divisive 90s romantic comedy with a notable cast; some find its outlandish plot and humor charming and fun, while others consider it dated and poorly executed.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The paintings created by Brad Pitt’s character, Elliot Fowler, were actually done by artist Damian Elwes, the brother of actor Cary Elwes and producer Cassian Elwes.”
• “Director Donald Petrie also directed the popular films ‘Mystic Pizza’ (1988) and ‘Grumpy Old Men’ (1993).”

🖥️ How to Watch The Favor?

To watch ‘The Favor’ (1994), check major digital platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, or Google Play for availability to rent or purchase. Streaming availability may vary, so consulting these services directly is recommended. You can often find options to buy the movie on platforms like Amazon.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Favor, you might like these similar films:

• Mystic Pizza (1988): Directed by the same filmmaker, this movie also focuses on the romantic lives and strong friendships between a group of young women.
• When Harry Met Sally… (1989): A classic romantic comedy that explores the dynamics of friendship evolving through different stages of romantic entanglements, also featuring Harley Jane Kozak.
• Indecent Proposal (1993): While more dramatic, this film similarly explores how an external proposition or ‘favor’ involving a third party can test the boundaries and trust within a marriage.
• While You Were Sleeping (1995): A lighthearted romantic comedy from the same era featuring Bill Pullman in a central romantic role, involving comedic complications arising from a relationship built on misunderstandings.
• High Fidelity (2000): Explores a character’s introspection about past relationships and ‘what if’ scenarios, albeit from a male perspective, capturing a similar blend of romantic comedy and relationship analysis.

🛒 The Favor Related Products

• The Favor DVD or Digital Rental: Own or rent the classic 90s romantic comedy ‘The Favor’ to relive the awkward situations and see early performances from the star-studded cast.
• Beginner Harmonica Set: Inspired by Bill Pullman’s character Peter in ‘The Favor’, this beginner harmonica set is perfect for anyone wanting to pick up a new instrument and add a little quirky charm to their life.
• Harley Jane Kozak Mystery Novel: After her acting career, ‘The Favor’ star Harley Jane Kozak became a successful mystery writer. Explore her published works.
• 90s Rom-Com Movie Collection: If you enjoyed the vibe of ‘The Favor’, dive into other classic romantic comedies from the 1990s with a curated digital movie bundle.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Favor features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Favor” – performed by Ray Charles
• “Give Me Strength” – performed by Eric Clapton
• “Crazy Love” – performed by Van Morrison
• “Love Is My Business” – performed by Etta James

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Please Help Me!!

Curious why this short clip has over 125 million views? ‘Please Help Me!!’ has gone incredibly viral – click to see what everyone’s talking about! It must be pretty wild!

Un pequeño favor ✨😂

Want to see another massively popular viral moment? This clip, titled ‘Un pequeño favor’ (A small favor), has millions of views! See if you can tell why so many people enjoyed it.

When your friend asked you for a favor! #shortsvideo

We’ve all been there – that moment your friend asks for *that* favor! This short video captured the feeling perfectly for millions of viewers. Give it a watch and see if you agree!

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