It’s been a while since we’ve been graced with a laugh-out-loud comedy tailored for adults. The risqué humor that almost makes you feel embarrassed to find it funny. I’m talking about those rated R classics like American Pie, The Hangover, Knocked Up, Sex Tape, Girls Trip, Ted and so many more.
They’re the kind of films that are not safe for work and are purposely watched after the kids have gone to bed. When the trailer dropped for No Hard Feelings starring our District 12 warrior, Jennifer Lawrence from the director of Good Boys and co-writer of Bad Teacher, audiences anticipated a naughty good time. But, despite the controversial premise, No Hard Feelings shed its raunchy exterior as the film progressed revealing a sweet tale about pushing through fear, letting go of the past, and braving the possibilities that lie in the future.
Maddie Barker (Jennifer Lawrence; Causeway) is a thirty-something Uber driver born and raised in upstate New York. The Montauk hottie is used to being able to flirt her way out of messy situations, but her magic didn’t work when her ex-fling came to repossess her car.
This couldn’t have come at a worse time as Maddie owes back taxes on her childhood home. She’ll lose the house if she doesn’t pay off the balance by fall. Scrambling to find a solution to get her back into a ride in time to cash in on all those summer Uber rides, she comes across an ad with a peculiar offer.
The job listing comes from wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) to pull him out of his shell so he’ll be ready for college when he leaves for Princeton after the summer. After meeting the parents (Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti), it’s confirmed that by date, the parents mean for Maddie to deflower their son. Desperate, Maddie agrees, not knowing how socially awkward their son actually is.
The forced meet-cute is where the comedy actually starts. Maddie is pulling out all the usual cheap tricks but Percy is simply not responding. He actually becomes afraid which results in a hilarious mace scene. Maddie has to adjust her approach but her entire personality is built upon not attaching, floating on the surface, and avoiding the deep end.
The film has somewhat of a turbulent start. Some of the jokes fall flat, and the sound is eerily quiet almost begging for chirping crickets to fill the silence. Once the story picks up between Maddie and Percy, the film ebbs and flows between laugh-out-loud hilarity and heartwarming pauses usually initiated by Percy’s desire to get to know Maddie beyond her bombshell exterior.
The harder Maddie pushes assuming this would be an easy lay, the more Percy resists. He isn’t one of her usuals she’d pick up at a bar. And he isn’t clamoring to bed her. He wants to know her and he wants to be with someone that knows him.
It’s been a while since we’ve seen Lawrence, who also produced the film, having fun in a movie. This is her first full-on comedic role and she definitely makes the case for more roles like this in the future. Although Lawrence is the obvious A-lister in this production, Feldman’s performance as Percy is an equal match against her talent.
It’s got to be hard to share a screen with the Academy Award-winning actor, yet Feldman did so like a champ. And in some scenes, he completely stole the show and commanded the spotlight through his portrayal of the vulnerable introvert.
No Hard Feelings doesn’t exactly fulfill its promise. Audiences might go expecting to witness a scandal, but no such luck. The problem with the movie lies in its balance. The film never goes full raunch. Instead, it starts to detract from the vulgar jokes to turn into more of a rom-com sans romance.
Still, they’re a quite a bit of things people can relate to. Maddie, a born and raised Montauk resident, is stuck. She’s stuck in her childhood home. Stuck in Montaauk. Stuck cycling through guys and investing in no type of future. That complacency is her comfort zone. You don’t have to risk disappointment if you stick with what you know.
Similar to Percy, yet unlike Maddie, he has all the means to venture out and almost ensure a lucrative and successful future. But he’s missing Maddie’s outgoing nature that enables her to enter the world with a boldness. Yet, she doesn’t use that attitude to actually move forward.
This is where the sweetness of the film lies. Both Maddie and Percy needed something from each other. They each just needed a friend that would help them push past that one hump that was holding them back.
Maddie has to remind Percy that he is an adult. Percy has to remind Maddie that she has feelings.
Like a Chinese finger trap, sometimes you’ve gotta push in to let go.
I empathized with Percy’s character. I spend quite a bit of time alone, and find it difficult to journey outside my shell. My days are filled with isolated activities or connecting with people online, similar to Percy in the film. His relatability as a character is what fuels a few scenes that might make the sensitive leave with teary eyes.
No Hard Feelings should be applauded for attempting to bring back rated R comedies. In this hypersensitive climate, where one tweet can cancel you permanently, this film came out swinging and will probably stand strong. It proves that we’re ready to laugh at the inappropriate as long as it’s handled responsibly. Ultimately, playing it this safe might leave audiences wanting more.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
No Comment! Be the first one.