Jennifer Lawrence and comedy were not two things we thought we needed, but it turns out that perhaps that was a mistake to overlook. If you were stuck in a dead-end job and no car and an opportunity to get a free car came along, just how far would you go to get it?
On the brink of losing her childhood home, a desperate woman agrees to date a wealthy couple’s introverted and awkward 19-year-old son before he leaves for college.
Review
No Hard Feelings is a classic comedy at its core and that’s a refreshing thing for Hollywood. Jennifer Lawrence plays a woman who agrees to date the son of some random rich parents who put out an ad on Craig’s list. In exchange for “dating” him, she would get a new car. She recently lost hers and as an Uber driver, without a car, she will lose her home. In the flip on the formula of an older guy and a younger girl, Lawrence plays the early 30’s girl to a 19-year-old boy. In this case, both actors are playing their age in this film, though Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) is 21.
I admittedly came into the film with low expectations given the marketing on the trailer, it’s been a long time since a good solid comedy came out. The R rating and the trailer would suggest a raunchy sex-fueled comedy, however, this comedy is far more grounded and less raunchy than the trailer would have you believe. In fact, the R rating is most likely exclusively due to an outrageous full-frontal nudity scene with Lawrence on the beach taking down some clothing thieves, pro-wrestler style.
Lawrence has a knack for comedy, as she and Feldman deliver perfect one-liners throughout the film that left me laughing and also feeling like a few of them hit a bit too close to home. The film is also a commentary on the times with “helicopter parents” and kids who spend their days playing games, watching anime, and being socially awkward. After a strong sexual start to Maddie’s (Lawrence) approach to dating Percy, things suddenly went sweet and he started to like her. But hey this is a comedy so that’s when things all hit the fan, again.
These types of movies from the early 2000’s have been missed by many who see most films filled with specific social commentary or statements. While there are certainly relevant elements to this store that ring true to both millennials and gen-z, the film’s focus is simply on the comedic aspect and the hilarity that ensues as a result. It’s not the most memorable comedy ever, but at least as far as recent films are concerned, it was an enjoyable laugh at the movies. And Jennifer Lawrence needs to be in more comedies, just putting that out there.
No Hard Feelings hits theatres June 23rd.
