No Hard Feelings (2023)

I admire Jennifer Lawrence as an actress and always enjoy seeing her on screen. Naturally, I looked forward to watching her in a new sex comedy called “No Hard Feelings”, hoping for some laughs and a different genre. Regrettably, the movie did not meet my expectations, leaving me disappointed and uninterested.

The film’s premise is based on a viral Craigslist ad from a few years ago, where wealthy parents sought someone to date their introverted son and help him prepare for college. Lawrence portrays Maddie, a financially struggling Uber driver who responds to the ad and agrees to spend her summer with Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman), a nerdy 19-year-old living with his overprotective parents (Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti). 

Although the movie attempts to be a raunchy comedy in the same vein as Superbad or The 40 Year Old Virgin, it falls short of delivering genuine laughs or emotional depth. The humour mainly relies on crude jokes involving nudity, bodily fluids, drugs, and sex toys that are predictable and lack originality.

The characters in the film are one-dimensional and unlikeable, especially Maddie, who is supposed to be our protagonist but comes across as self-centred, manipulative, and irresponsible. Instead of treating Percy as an individual with his thoughts and feelings, she sees him as a project to exploit for personal gain. Similarly, Percy fails to exhibit any distinct personality or agency throughout the film; he simply complies with whatever Maddie instructs him to do without questioning her motivations or expressing his desires. 

“No Hard Feelings” fails to delve into intriguing themes or convey insightful messages about sexuality, maturity or relationships. It misses opportunities to provide humorous yet thought-provoking commentary on growing up under pressure from society’s expectations or navigating love in today’s world. While I respect Jennifer Lawrence as an actress, “No Hard Feelings” did not deliver the enjoyable experience I had anticipated. The movie lacked the comedic spark and meaningful content found in successful films of its genre. 

Rather than delving into depth and exploring new ideas, the movie settles for tired clichés and stereotypes portraying sex as a mere objective to be checked off rather than a meaningful bond to be shared. The movie conveniently ignores the ethical and legal dilemmas presented by Maddie’s arrangement with Percy’s parents, who essentially exploit their son for financial gain. The film fails to address the power dynamics and issues of consent that are part of this arrangement. 

The only saving grace of “No Hard Feelings” is Jennifer Lawrence’s commendable performance. She tries her best to make Maddie relatable and amusing, with some chemistry with Feldman in certain scenes. Lawrence also exhibits her impeccable comedic timing and mastery of physical comedy throughout the movie. But even her performance cannot salvage this film from being an utter waste of time and talent. “No Hard Feelings” is a disappointing and forgettable comedy that does not warrant your time or money.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your local movie guide for show times.)