About the film (courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing):
Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) thinks she’s found the answer to her financial troubles when she discovers an intriguing job listing: wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, Percy, and bring him out of his shell before he leaves for college. But awkward Percy proves to be more of a challenge than she expected, and time is running out. She has one summer to make him a man or lose it all.
Albeit for only two short weeks, Jennifer Lawrence was last seen exclusively on the big screen roughly 18 months in the Netflix satirical comedy, Don’t Look Up (2021), before becoming available on the streaming service for home viewing. The ensemble sci-fi dramady didn’t exactly set the box office on fire, much like many of her post-Hunger Games franchise efforts. No Hard Feelings looks to return JLaw to some sort of prominence as she takes on a role that could be seen as a bit risky.
No Hard Feelings is a funny, heartwarming, and unexpectedly sweet film that restore some of the faith that fans of Jennifer Lawrence may have lost in recent years. Lawrence gives a solid performance as Maddie, a 32-year-old woman who is down on her luck and agrees to take on a job as a female suitor of sorts for Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), an awkward 19-year-old who is about to leave for college. This, by the way, is at the behest of his loving and overbearing parents (Matthew Broderick, Laura Benanti). The two of them start out as complete opposites, but they slowly start to grow on each other as they spend more time together.
No Hard Feelings is full of laugh-out-loud moments, but it also has a lot of heart. Maddie and Percy are both deeply flawed characters, but they are also incredibly likable. As they spend more time together, they begin to teach each other about life, love, and what it means to be truly happy. Of course, this isn’t possible without some ups, downs and truly hilarious moments.
The film is directed by Gene Stupnitsky, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Jennifer Lawrence. Stupnitsky does a great job of balancing the No Hard Feelings‘s humor with its heart. The jokes are funny, but they never feel mean-spirited. And the emotional moments are genuinely touching. Lawrence is particularly good at bringing Maddie’s vulnerability and humor to life, which is also another credit to Stupnitsky.
No Hard Feelings is not without its flaws, though. The film’s tonal shift in the third act is a bit jarring, and some of the jokes fall flat. However, these flaws are minor compared to the film’s many strengths. Lawrence is simply outstanding, and Feldman is a revelation. The supporting cast is also strong, with supporting turns from Natalie Morales, Scott MacArthur, Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Kyle Mooney.
Overall, No Hard Feelings is a refreshing and heartwarming experience that offers a unique perspective on love and relationships. It is a must-see for fans of Jennifer Lawrence, rom-coms, and anyone who loves a good story about finding love in unexpected places. Just know that its premise might be a bit controversial for some people.
You can see No Hard Feelings in theaters this Friday, June 23rd with early showtimes Thursday evening. And remember that this film definitely earns its R-rating.
