PHOTO BY LORENZO SISTI / AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES

The 2018 thriller “A Simple Favor” was at once a tawdry bit of pulp fiction and a loving parody of its genre. A winking remix of mass-market paperback thrillers, it pulled the rug out from under its page-turner inspirations — but provided twists and turns.

Its sequel, “Another Simple Favor,” is not so ambitious; its revelations are more deus ex machina than tightly woven plot threads. That does not, however, make it any less enjoyable; it combines escapist fantasy with soap-opera plotting to deliver a thin yet often delightful experience.

If the first film felt like a buzzy book-club novel, this one is a bestselling beach read. It remains shocking that neither of these films is based on an actual book; maybe we need to revive the lost art of movie novelization? (Tarantino’s already doing it, anyway.)

Last time, vlogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) foiled the clever plot of Hope (Blake Lively), who faked her own death in the course of actually killing her estranged twin, Faith. Now, Hope is out on bail thanks to the influence of her impossibly wealthy fiancé (Michele Morrone), who may or may not be a powerful mafioso. In spite of all the attempted murder and double crossing, Hope convinces Stephanie to serve as the maid of honor; if nothing else, she points out, it’ll be good for her book sales.

Yes, there’s a lot of plot, but don’t worry about it; you’ll have fun whether you remember any of this or not.

The wedding party whisks off to Capri, where most of the principals from the first film have assembled for the wedding. The bodies start piling up in short order, of course, and Stephanie is cornered into a vacation full of amateur detective work.

The particular ins and outs of the story are of little consequence — and beg you to spare any scrutiny. You’ll likely be too busy ogling the remarkable scenery (shot beautifully by John Schwartzman) and the equally gorgeous, impeccably attired cast.

Such pleasures are welcome, though they might not have been enough to elevate “Another Simple Favor” above a trifle. Fortunately, Lively and Kendrick are perfect in these roles; the pair has remarkable chemistry and genuinely funny repartee, guided well by director Paul Feig. The scene where Stephanie and Hope gossip in the pool is as compelling as the one where they might throw the other off a cliff.

My Rating: 7/10

“Another Simple Favor” is available May 1 via Prime Video.