Fun and wacky! Non-stop comedy! These words come to mind as you watch the No Hard Feelings movie starring Jennifer Lawrence. Directed by none other than Gene Stupnitsky who wrote several great episodes of The Office (American) TV Series, No Hard Feelings reflects his signature humorous style. That being said, it is a light-hearted movie that promises to entertain.
The Plot of No Hard Feelings
The backstory that tries to justify the plot of No Hard Feelings feels a bit forced as if various situations have been concocted to serve the creator’s purpose. It doesn’t effortlessly fit the overall style, but that’s alright if you stick around to see the nightmarish comedy unfold. The entire movie centers on the premise of what might happen if a 32-year-old woman tried ‘to date’ a 19-year-old boy. And by ‘date date’, they really mean ‘date date’!
No Hard Feelings tries to spread its wings in contemporary times so, some things might not make sense to everyone. But you really need to forget the times and just enjoy it light-heartedly. Have a good laugh and move on—that’s all! It’s not a film meant to be dissected so there’s no need to overanalyze it.
Admittedly, No Hard Feelings does get ridiculous at times. There are plenty of moments that will leave you questioning a lot of things. But then again, there are scenes that you will remember and laugh about with friends, especially when the goofy moments unfold in ways you never expect. That’s the fun part. It is almost as if Gene told his crew, “What’s the most plausible thing that could happen? Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen. Let’s blow their minds!”
Jennifer Lawrence as Maddy
Jennifer Lawrence once again proves how truly gifted she is, effortlessly steering the film with her sheer performance. She is the key highlight, delivering self-driven acts that make you realize that she is, in fact, Maddy in real life. Essentially, she plays herself and you can tell that she had a blast acting in this movie.
That being said her character is just wild and ruthless. The lengths she goes to get what she wants, a Buick in this case, are just plain crazy.
Andrew Barth Feldman as Percy Becker
The other protagonist is Percy Baker played brilliantly by Andrew Barth Feldman, who does absolute justice to the role of a self-conscious 19-year-old. He is exactly as his parents describe him—a shy kid who they want to break out of his shell. However, their methods of making him more outgoing and outspoken are certainly debatable. Nevertheless, the most enjoyable moments stem from his perfectly awkward reactions to Maddy’s bold advances.
Maddy’s relentless pursuit of Percy, coupled with his constant rejections, forms the core comedic element of No Hard Feelings.
The Final Verdict
You might question how such a situation could be romanticized and wonder if people would accept it if the roles were reversed.
However, it’s hard not to notice, how the film’s setup—uptight, wealthy, concerned parents asking an adult woman to date their shy son—feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to justify itself. While the moral questions can’t be ignored, the sheer absurdity of it all, especially when everything falls into place, makes you realize that even though the film tries hard not to be serious, it’s also trying to be, in its own way.
But if you are just looking to pass the time on a lazy Sunday, No Hard Feelings is the perfect pick. Something to laugh off and forget, without needing to take anything too seriously.
The funniest moments come from Maddy’s countless reckless attempts that fall flat due to Percy’s innocence. Watch out for the part where she asks him to spank her—that one’s hilarious!
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No Hard Feelings
Pros
- Great comedy
- Lighthearted and fun
- Wacky humor
Cons
- Poor plot build up
- Feels forced
- Quite daft
