No Hard Feelings Review: An awkward sex comedy that’s sweeter than you think
No Hard Feelings Review: No hard feelings may initially seem like a questionable concept for a funny story. In the film, Jennifer Lawrence plays her first lead role in a full-fledged comedy, where she spends about 103 minutes seducing a socially awkward 19-year-old for financial gain. Unsurprisingly, the film is hilarious and a great reminder of Lawrence’s ability to captivate an audience.
Lawrence plays Maddie Barker, a Montauk native determined to stay in her hometown. While struggling to pay the property tax on the house she inherited after her mother’s death, Maddy survives by doing odd jobs. However, she suffered another setback when she lost her car due to missed payments. Without a car, she can no longer work as an Uber driver or earn money from tourists to pay her bills. However, Maddie finds an unusual solution to buying a new vehicle: she meets wealthy parents who are willing to gift a car to a kind girl who likes to sleep with their introverted son before he leaves for college.
On paper, No Hard Feelings might raise eyebrows with its premise that verges on good taste. In execution, however, the film maintains a lovely and mellow tone that prevents it from veering into transgressive or overly vulgar territory. Maddie is a chaotic character who burns bridges readily and cares little for social good. For her, getting engaged to a 19-year-old is no big deal. Unfortunately for Maddy, the young man in question, Percy (played by Andrew Barth Feldman), is too shy and naive to respond to her advances. Thus, Maddy must win him over, ensuring that Percy is oblivious to his parents’ orchestrated arrangement.
No Hard Feelings starts off as a sex comedy but evolves into a story of an unlikely friendship. Maddie attempts to seduce a boy who is too fearful to even realize he’s being hit on. Maddie goes through a series of humiliating challenges, such as getting sprayed with mace, fighting thieves while naked, and having her backside set on fire while clinging to a car hood, all in order to persuade Percy to embrace his sexuality. However, No Hard Feelings is ultimately about both Maddie and Percy needing to open up emotionally and break free from their stagnant lives.
Above all, No Hard Feelings serves as a reminder of Jennifer Lawrence’s comedic talent. Known for her memorable dramatic roles in films like Winter’s Bone, Silver Linings Playbook, and the Hunger Games series, Lawrence proves she can be incredibly funny. Whether it’s through Maddie’s exaggerated seduction attempts, her clever and profane insults towards ex-boyfriends and peers, or her underlying frustration towards wealthy tourists invading her hometown, Lawrence’s charisma holds the entire movie together.
However, the film is not solely reliant on Lawrence’s performance. Andrew Barth Feldman holds his own as the straight-laced character, serving as an excellent contrast to Maddie’s antics. He becomes the focal point for other characters, including his overprotective parents (played by Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti) and his nanny (portrayed by Kyle Mooney). They all hover around him, fussing over a young man who yearns for independence but struggles to face the world alone.
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Jennifer Lawrence is the main reason to watch No Hard Feelings. Although the film leans towards sweetness rather than explicit humor, resulting in a messy third act, Lawrence’s performance anchors it with genuine emotion. As Maddie, she embraces the complexities of a challenging character and shows her growth and self-acceptance.
In recent years, Jennifer Lawrence has been less active in the film industry, with No Hard Feelings being only her third movie in the past four years. Similarly, big R-rated comedies from major studios have been scarce, struggling to stand out amidst a sea of franchise films, unlike horror movies. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Sometimes, all you need for a good time is a talented actor and a story that may seem unconventional at first.